However, the Global investment firm Centricus is funding another British bid to buy Chelsea, saying it wants to "maintain and support existing management".

It would be noted that the club was put up for sale by Russian owner Roman Abramovich before he was sanctioned following his country's invasion of Ukraine.

This latest bid, backed by Centricus - which has £29bn in assets - features several Chelsea season-ticket holders.

At least four other consortiums have said they have bid to buy the Blues.

There is a group featuring Sir Martin Broughton and Lord Coe, and one headed by British property investor Nick Candy.