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Ratcliffe bid for Chelsea muddies the waters

The last minute bid by Sir Jim Ratcliffe for Chelsea has muddied the waters, but it is too late in the day.

Ratcliffe has offered the £2.5bn required by Roman Abramovich, plus £1.75 billion of investment in the club.  He reckons that his firm's experience in big civil engineering projects would enable the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge without having to play elsewhere.

Ratcliffe is also claiming his is the only British bid, although he is resident in Monaco.   Lancashire born, Ratcliffe was originally interested in Manchester United, but reckoned (probably correctly) that it was over valued.   He thinks that Chelsea is expensive 'but not foolish'.

His vision is to make Chelsea the No.1 club, so that London would have an equivalent of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Barcelona.   Other London clubs are available and might feel they have an equivalent or greater claim.

Part of the motivation is to make his company Ineos more than 'the biggest company you've never heard of.'   However, at age 70, personal fulfillment is also a factor.

Whatever happens everything has to be resolved by May 31st when the special licence runs out and the Government could seize control of Chelsea as an asset.

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