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.
News can exclusively reveal that the Ricketts family, who are long-term admirers of Chelsea, and Mr Griffin have formed an investment group that will lodge a formal offer for last season's Champions League winners on Friday - the deadline set for bids to be in. The development, which will be publicly announced on Wednesday, presents a formidable competitor to rival bidders as Roman Abramovich's 19-year tenure as Chelsea's owner draws to a conclusion
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 the consortium said it had been the largest privately financed stadium restoration project in US history. "Wrigley Field was transformed from terminal disrepair to a national treasure," the source said. That narrative is expected to be deployed amid the ongoing debate about the future of Stamford Bridge, which Chelsea fans and executives generally accept will need extensive expansion work if the club is to compete sustainably with European rivals which boast much larger capacities
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