Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich announced his decision to sell Chelsea last Wednesday in response to the outrage over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich, who bought the Premier League club in 2003, also mentioned that all net proceeds from the eventual sale of Chelsea will be for the benefit of all victims of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
With ownership rights for Chelsea now up for grabs, several suitors have intensified their bids for a chance to get one of the world’s most attractive and high-profile football assets.
Meanwhile, there is some palpable tension in the red side of Manchester as Cristiano Ronaldo was reportedly “furious” about not being included in the squad during their derby defeat to Manchester City, and the said result has posed huge ramifications in the title race.
Before we look ahead to another exciting matchday, let’s look into the most notable Premier League 2022 updates lately.
Chelsea evaluating their bidders
A consortium fronted by Todd Boehly and Hansjorg Wyss has formally submitted their bid and they’re still waiting for a response from Roman Abramovich himself.
Boehly is the co-founder and CEO of Eldridge Industries – a holding company based in Greenwich, Connecticut. The 86-year-old Wyss, meanwhile, is the founder and the former president of Synthes Holding AG. Both are also part-owners of the LA Dodgers.
The size of their offer has yet to be disclosed, but it is unlikely that it’ll be higher than £2-B since Wyss has gone on record saying that Abramovich’s asking price is too high. The Russian businessman is reportedly seeking for as much as £4-B.
Another notable suitor for Chelsea’s ownership is Conor McGregor. The former UFC featherweight and lightweight double-champion initially took it to social media to express his interest, although Abramovich isn’t reportedly keen on selling the club to the Irishman.
Abramovich recently appointed New York-based bank Raine to oversee the sale and interested parties have been given until March 15 to submit their bids.
Here at SBOTOP, we’ll keep tabs on the developments regarding Chelsea’s sale, although their players must maintain their focus on the pitch.
As far as football is concerned, Chelsea bounced back this past week after losing in the EFL Cup final against Liverpool to penalties. They defeated Luton Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup and they won against Burnley at Turf Moor last Saturday with a 4-0 scoreline.
Father Time is testing Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo was omitted from the squad during United’s 4-1 defeat at City to which he was reportedly not pleased.
Interim United manager Ralf Rangnick had said during the pre-match press conference that Ronaldo was ruled out due to a hip flexor because it was the advice given to him by the club’s doctors.
Ronaldo’s teammates were said to have been left shocked following the decision and several reports indicate that the 37-year-old had flown back to Portugal to rest, which might be interpreted as an act of defiance since Rangnick requires his players to rehab close to Manchester instead of abroad.
His hip flexor has bothered him at key points this season, which is a sign that perhaps Father Time is catching up with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. In their FA Cup victory over Aston Villa last January, Edinson Cavani got the nod to start over him because of the same issue.
The good news is that following their City defeat, Ronaldo was seen at United’s Carrington training ground last Tuesday in order to prepare for their upcoming match against Tottenham on Sunday.
The Red Devils are currently fifth at the table with 47 points since they were overtaken by the Gunners last week. Manchester United’s Premier League 2022 odds of securing a top four spot has dwindled given the fact that Arsenal has three more games in hand.
Newcastle United rounding into form
The Magpies have won five of their last six and are undefeated in eight, which is a sign that Eddie Howe’s project is already taking shape. Because of their streak, the relegation zone now appears to be in their rear-view mirror.
Against Brighton in the last time out, Newcastle got their first victory against a Top 10 opponent as Ryan Fraser and Fabian Schar scored two quick goals within the first 15 minutes to secure the three points.
Ryan Fraser, Joelinton, and Fabian Schar appear to be more motivated with the change of owners while new signing Dan Burn has been huge for them lately.
St. James Park is rocking once more and Newcastle fans can feel that bigger and better things are coming for their beloved club.
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