Chelsea: Boehly Set to Be Preferred Bidder

A consortium led by LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly is set to be named the preferred bidder for Chelsea, BBC Sport understands.

The club was put up for sale before owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned for his alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier on Friday, British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe made a £4.25bn offer.

The late offer is understood to have prompted confusion among rival bidders.

Ratcliffe - majority shareholder of chemical group Ineos - pledged to invest £1.75bn into the club over 10 years as part of his submission.

But the offer arrived on Friday morning, weeks beyond the initial deadline for bids of 18 March.

Chelsea and Boehly have not officially commented on his group's position as preferred bidders.

The American investor and businessman - who has offered around £2.5bn for the club - has a reported net worth of $4.5bn (£3.6bn) according to Forbes.