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The owners of the Chicago Cubs and Ken Griffin, the billionaire hedge fund tycoon, have joined forces to table a blockbuster bid for Chelsea Football Club.
Sky News can exclusively reveal that the Ricketts family and Mr Griffin have formed an investment group that will lodge a formal offer for last season’s Champions League-winners on Friday.
The development, which will be publicly announced later, presents a formidable competitor to rival bidders as Roman Abramovich’s 19-year tenure as Chelsea’s owner draws to a conclusion.
The Ricketts’ joint bid with Mr Griffin – and potentially further co-investors – makes the Cubs owners the latest in a string of American sports billionaires to prepare firm offers for Chelsea in what is shaping up to become the most hotly contested auction of a Premier League club in history.
Sky News initially revealed 11 days ago that the Ricketts family was talking to prospective financing partners including Mr Griffin, but on Wednesday, a spokesman for the consortium confirmed: “The Ricketts Family, owners of the Chicago Cubs, can confirm they will be leading an investment group that will make a formal bid for Chelsea Football Club this Friday.
“As long-time operators of an iconic professional sports team, the Ricketts Family and their partners understand the importance of investing for success on the pitch, while respecting the traditions of the club, the fans and the community.
“We look forward to sharing further details of our plans in due course.”
Sources close to their impending bid said the Ricketts’ record of success with the Chicago Cubs and the financial firepower of their consortium would make an ideal recipe for success at Stamford Bridge.
The last six years have been the most successful in the Cubs’ history – winning the World Series and completing a $1bn renovation of the team’s home, Wrigley Field, which is one of the most historic sports arenas in the US, having been built in 1914.
A source close to…
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Source : skynews
