Chelsea are set for a £400million cash injection through an investment deal with US firm Ares Management.
Ares, who had talks with Manchester United during their ongoing takeover saga, are instead poised to boost Chelsea’s finances.
The west London club’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, are seeking funds to develop the club, including their stadium expansion plans and increasing their multi-club model. Both Chelsea and asset managers Ares refused to comment on the situation.
Boehly and Clearlake bought the club 16 months ago for £2.5bn with an extra £1.75bn committed to invest in the club on and off the pitch.
They have spent more than £1bn on transfers since then, with the purchase of French top-flight club Strasbourg for £65m another standout investment.
Chelsea are set to receive a £400m cash injection as Todd Boehly (right) looks for extra funding
The Blues are in talks with US firm Ares Management – with expanding Stamford Bridge high on the agenda
Chelsea are looking to add further clubs to their network.
Portugal is one of the next countries they are looking at and 19-time champions Sporting Lisbon are in their sights.
Ares, meanwhile, had raised about £3bn to pump into sport plus media and entertainment firms, with a significant chunk of that now earmarked for Chelsea.
The club remain in discussion over whether to redevelop their current 40,000-capacity Stamford Bridge home or relocate, though both options come with obstacles.
For example, non-profit organisation Chelsea Pitch Owners own the Stamford Bridge freehold and could block any potential move.
Chelsea are looking to add further clubs to their network – with Sporting Lisbon on their list
Chelsea are a step closer to finding out if they have succeeded in their bid to buy the neighbouring 1.2 acre site, which is currently home to the Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions.
Purchasing that land would give them a bigger footprint to work with should they choose to rebuild or redevelop on the existing site.
Seeing off competition from 13 other bidders, Chelsea agreed a deal in principle with veterans’ charity Stoll to buy the land next to Stamford Bridge and the consultation period with residents ends today.
Stoll will review the feedback before their board make a final decision this autumn on whether to proceed with the sale to Chelsea.
