Chelsea vs Wolves LIVE: Premier League latest score and updates as Lukaku nets twice in three minutes
Lukaku #Lukaku
Chelsea FC are on the verge of a sale, with the club confirming in the early hours of Saturday that a deal had been struck with LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly.
Since Roman Abramovich put the Blues on the market in March there have been dozens of reports, interested parties and bids, with the Boehly bid – which also includes Hansjorg Wyss and Clearlake Capital – ultimately set to complete a deal worth £4.25bn in total. That constitutes £2.5bn to buy the shares of the club, along with a further £1.75bn committed to future spending in several areas including the women’s team, the academy and club infrastructure.
Details are still emerging over the full implications of the bid but a 10-year block on the sale of shares indicates this will be a long-term purchase, while the deal could go through around the end of the current Premier League season. Chelsea are in action on Saturday afternoon, with Thomas Tuchel’s side facing Wolves as they look to secure a top-four finish and a Champions League berth for next term in the process. Follow all the news and reaction to the Chelsea sale, plus team news and live action from Chelsea vs Wolves below:
Chelsea vs Wolves live
Chelsea FC 2 – 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Chelsea 2-0 Wolves 16:21 , Dylan Terry
60 mins: Stamford Bridge is rocking now. Chelsea have had all of the ball in the last 10 minutes or so.
Wolves look stunned and this game may well be over.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Wolves (Lukaku, 58) 16:18 , Dylan Terry
58 mins: GOAL! That one hits the back of the net though! Lukaku has two in three minutes.
It’s a nightmare for Wolves. Coady drives a pass against Neves and Lukaku pounces on the ball. He still has a lot to do but the Belgian finishes with aplomb as he bends a right-footed strike into the bottom corner.
Chelsea running away with this now.
Chelsea 1-0 Wolves 16:18 , Dylan Terry
58 mins: Chelsea immediately have the opportunity to double their lead.
Wolves get themselves in a muddle at the back and Werner can latch onto the ball inside the left channel. He has the option to square it to Lukaku in the middle but decides to take the shot on himself and it goes out for a throw!
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Wolves (Lukaku, 56) 16:16 , Dylan Terry
56 mins: Lukaku sends Sa the wrong way and Chelsea have the lead.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 16:15 , Dylan Terry
54 mins: Referee Peter Bankes is told to go to the monitor and he swiftly chooses to point to the spot.
Chelsea have the chance to take the lead from 12 yards and it’s going to be Romelu Lukaku who takes it.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 16:13 , Dylan Terry
53 mins: Saiss was already on the floor as he tried to hook the ball away but he caught Lukaku’s leg instead.
Think this could be a penalty.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 16:13 , Dylan Terry
52 mins: YELLOW! This time it’s Moutinho who commits a foul as he schithes down Loftus-Cheek inside the Chelsea half. Another obvious caution.
The home side pin Wolves into their own half with a sustained period of possession before Lukaku bundles his way into the box and goes down after a tangle of legs with Saiss.
Referee Peter Bankes is unmoved but VAR are having a look. Difficult one to call.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 16:10 , Dylan Terry
50 mins: Wolves’ turn to attack as Jimenez finds Neto in space on the left-hand side. Neto’s cross is brilliantly cleared away by Silva, before Ait-Nouri tries to bend one into the top corner but it’s always travelling high and wide.
The pace has not slowed at the start of this second half. Both teams remain set on trying to win the game.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 16:09 , Dylan Terry
48 mins: Pulisic is brought down midway inside the Wolves half as Neves opts to stop the Chelsea attack with a foul.
James gives Sa the eyes as he looks set to cross the ball in but then goes for goal at the near post. The ball whistles the wrong side of the post but Sa did not have that covered! Clever idea.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 16:07 , Dylan Terry
47 mins: Chelsea will know after that first half that Wolves are incredibly dangerous on the break.
CHANCE! Oh but Chelsea are nearly instantly in front! Lukaku nods down for Pulisic and his cross falls for Werner who picks out the bottom corner but Sa is equal to it again!
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 16:05 , Dylan Terry
46 mins: The second half is underway at Stamford Bridge. Who will take control of this match in the next 45 minutes?
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 16:01 , Dylan Terry
Second half almost upon us. Can either side finally take their chances and make the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge?
Premier League half-time scores 15:58 , Dylan Terry
Here are the other half-time scores in the Premier League this afternoon:
HT: Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:52 , Dylan Terry
Half-time: That’s half-time and somehow we go into the break without a goal.
Chelsea have had two goals disallowed from Werner and Loftus-Cheek. Wolves had had three superb opportunities through Saiss, Dendoncker and Ait-Nouri but haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal.
Both teams could be in front. As it is, we are level at 0-0.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:50 , Dylan Terry
45+2 mins: YELLOW! Neto pulls the shirt of James and gets a textbook caution for his troubles.
Chelsea continue to press on the verge of half-time but Pulisic’s effort is blocked and Wolves can break!
Boly drives clear and slides a pass into Ait-Nouri who has the whole pitch to run into. He steams into the box but then sloppily fires his shot well over the bar.
How is this game still goalless?!
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:48 , Dylan Terry
45 mins: Three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Another decent chance in this game – this time for Chelsea. Kovacic plays it to Lukaku on the edge of the box with his back to goal. He rolls his man and gets a low shot off but Sa is down to claim it.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:47 , Dylan Terry
44 mins: CHANCE! Huge opportunity for Wolves at the end of this first half!
Neto does excellently to drift beyond James and get his shot away. Mendy makes a smart stop but the ball falls perfectly for Dendoncker who sends the ball over the bar from eight yards out! He had the whole goal to aim at.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:45 , Dylan Terry
42 mins: That was a confusing one for everybody inside the stadium but the correct decision was made.
Chelsea have now had two goals ruled out already in this first half.
The only positive for the home fans is that their side is very much back in control of the match. They just need the goal to show for it.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:42 , Dylan Terry
The goal has been disallowed. It’s flucked on at the near post and in the first phase of play Rudiger is onside. His effort fails to find the back of the net and after a touch off another Chelsea player Loftus-Cheek eventually puts it in but he is in an offside position.
A confusing one as there were many phases of play but they’ve come to the correct decision.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Wolves (Loftus-Cheek, 38) 15:39 , Dylan Terry
38 mins: GOAL! It’s in from the corner though!
Hold on though, VAR check is ongoing.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:38 , Dylan Terry
38 mins: All Chelsea again now. A nice chipped pass finds Lukaku but he is thwarted by Sa.
YELLOW! Saiss then goes into the book for hauling down Pulisic 25 yards from the Wolves goal.
James and Alonso both stand over the free-kick as they eye an attempt on goal. It’s Alonso who takes but the wall does its job and it’s out for a corner.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:36 , Dylan Terry
36 mins: Disallowed goal! Wolves really do get away with one there!
A lovely slide pass puts Werner in as Saiss hits the deck in front of him. The German slams the ball past Sa but referee Peter Banks had already blown for a free-kick.
Looked like Saiss just lost his footing more than anything. There was a bit of contact but it is a soft decision.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:34 , Dylan Terry
34 mins: Boly and Saiss both go for a Chelsea ball over the top and Werner’s movement forces them to put it behind for a corner.
The corner is swung in and reaches Rudiger at the back post. He tries to find the space for a cross but Saiss blocks the delivery and Wolves can breath.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:32 , Dylan Terry
32 mins: Neto working incredibly hard for his side as he holds the ball up in the left channel and forces a throw-in with Silva and Rudiger crowding around him.
Neves then clips a ball towards the back post for Dendoncker but the Wolves midfielder gets the timing of his jump wrong and the ball rolls through to Mendy.
Wolves starting to boss the middle of the park as groans ring out among the home supporters.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:31 , Dylan Terry
30 mins: Another half-chance for Wolves. It’s a wonderful ball in from Joao Moutinho which Chelsea clear to the edge of the box. Ruben Neves is steaming onto the ball and tries his luck but it’s drifts a few yards wide of Edouard Mendy’s right-hand post.
Been a much better last 15 minutes for Wolves compared to the opening quarter of an hour.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:29 , Dylan Terry
28 mins: Nice play from Thomas Tuchel’s side. Kovacic slides a pass down the line for Werner and he forces a corner as Coady puts it behind.
The initial corner is cleared by Wolves but Alonso sends it back in and a few seconds of pinball ends with the visitors somehow scrambling it clear.
YELLOW! Azpilicueta goes into the book as he puts a hand into the face of Neto while contesting for the ball on the near touchline.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:27 , Dylan Terry
26 mins: A round of applause rings out around Stamford Bridge in the 25th minute in memory of a Chelsea fan who sadly lost their life recently.
Meanwhile on the pitch, James tries his luck from distance but the ball is always rising over the top.
You feel the longer the game stays goalless, the more the visitors are going to fancy snatching all three points.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:26 , Dylan Terry
24 mins: James cheaply fouls Ait-Nouri on the far touchline and this gives Wolves an opportunity to deliver the ball into the box.
CHANCE! Oh, that’s the best chance of the game so far! It’s a wicked delivery from Jonny and Saiss has a free header eight yards out but can only nod it down into the ground and over the top.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:23 , Dylan Terry
22 mins: Alonso sends an inswinging free-kick into the melee of players on the edge of the six-yard box but Wolves keeper Sa climbs highest to collect the ball.
Chelsea have started this game well but are still yet to really have a clear-cut sight of goal.
Wolves also beginning to offer a little more in the final third.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:21 , Dylan Terry
20 mins: Entertaining game so far! This time it’s Chelsea’s turn to come forward as Loftus-Cheek finds Pulisic in between the lines and his curling effort drifts a couple of yards wide of the far post.
Here’s another chance for Chelsea though. Moutinho fouls Loftus-Cheek on the far touchline, midway inside the Wolves half.
Chance for Chelsea to load the box.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:19 , Dylan Terry
18 mins: CLOSE! A wonderful ball from Boly over the top finds Jimenez in the right channel. He looks up and tries to cut it back to Jonny but Rudiger is there to get in front of him and clear the ball away in the nick of time.
The flag then goes up for an earlier offside from Jimenez but the replay shows he may well have been in line.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:17 , Dylan Terry
16 mins: Yet again Wolves lose possession inside their own half and one Chelsea pass finds Lukaku inside the penalty area. The Belgian is on his weaker right foot but still manages to get a shot away which Sa comfortably saves.
Now Wolves go up the other end and earn themselves a corner. Neves delivers and a little deflection takes it onto Saiss but he can’t react quick enough as his header loops well over the top.
The visitors beginning to find their feet.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:15 , Dylan Terry
14 mins: Chelsea have had 74 per cent of the ball so far as we approach the quarter of an hour mark.
Werner and Lukaku are relentlessly buzzing around the Wolves centre-backs as the visitors try to work their way out of their own half.
Eventually they do find a pass into the Chelsea half and Neves tries to find Neto but there’s far too much on the ball.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:13 , Dylan Terry
12 mins: Few camera shots of the movers and shakers at Chelsea’s board level. Former keeper turned technical director Petr Cech is watching on intently – as is the potential new owner Todd Boehly.
Thomas Tuchel also eagerly watching his side like a hawk on the sidelines. He will be pleased with their start to this match.
James drives down the right and tries to evade a couple of Wolves challenges but the ball runs out for a goal kick.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:11 , Dylan Terry
10 mins: Werner pinches the ball away from Neves in the middle of the park and Chelsea can come forward once more.
CHANCE! Loftus-Cheek plays a lovely pass through to Kovacic and he slides in Werner. The Chelsea forward beats his man and fires a low shot towards the far corner which Sa is equal to.
All Chelsea early on. Bruno Lage’s side are incredibly static at the back.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:09 , Dylan Terry
8 mins: Chelsea with all of the ball in the opening stages of this match.
A lovely long pass from Rudiger is flicked on by a Wolves head and looks to be dropping for Pulisic before Sa comes out to collect.
Wolves haven’t really got going yet.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:07 , Dylan Terry
6 mins: Nice build-up play from Chelsea as they work it from Rudiger into Loftus-Cheek. He finds Pulisic in between the lines and the American almost slips Kovacic in behind the Wolves back line but Boly smartly intercepts at a crucial time.
Decent start from Chelsea. Wolves try to break but the through ball to Jimenez is swept up by Rudiger.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:05 , Dylan Terry
4 mins: Definitely looks as though it’s a 3-4-1-2 for Chelsea today with Pulisic playing in the number 10 position behind the strike duo of Lukaku and Werner.
It is Werner who chases a ball over the top from Loftus-Cheek but the German can’t keep it in play as it drifts out for a Wolves goal kick.
The visitors play it out from the back and James fouls Ait-Nouri as Chelsea look to press high up the pitch.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:03 , Dylan Terry
2 mins: Important that Chelsea start this game well coming off the back of their defeat to Everton last weekend. They also have the small matter of the FA Cup final against Liverpool in seven days time.
The hosts do start well as Kovacic finds James with a lovely crossfield ball but the England full-back’s delivery is headed clear by Dendoncker.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolves 15:01 , Dylan Terry
1 min: KICK-OFF! We are underway at Stamford Bridge for this Premier League clash between Chelsea and Wolves.
Chelsea vs Wolves 14:56 , Luke Baker
Around 5 minutes until kick off at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s off-field future looks a lot brighter following the overnight news that the Todd Boehly-led consortium has signed £4.25bn agreement to buy the club.
Can they celebrate with a win over an out-of-sorts Wolves side?
Chelsea confirm Todd Boehly consortium sign £4.25bn agreement to buy club
Stamford Bridge blues? 14:52 , Luke Baker
An interesting stat for you.
Just 44% of Chelsea’s Premier League points this season have come at Stamford Bridge (29 out of 66). Only Watford and Brighton have won a lower percentage of their points at home this term.
As it stands, this would be the first time in Chelsea history that they’ve won more away points than at home in consecutive seasons.
Chelsea vs Wolves 14:47 , Luke Baker
Can we expect goals at Stamford Bridge today?
The last two Premier League games between Chelsea and Wolves have ended 0-0, which suggests not… But the Blues have never had three consecutive league goalless draws against the same opponent in their history, so hopefully that trend isn’t bucked today.
In worse news for Wolves, they haven’t won a league game at Stamford Bridge since 1979, so they’re fighting the tide of history.
Chelsea vs Wolves 14:38 , Karl Matchett
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Bruno Lage will not travel to Stamford Bridge for Saturday’s Premier League game against third-placed Chelsea on Saturday after testing positive for COVID-19.
Goalkeeper coach Tony Roberts, who replaced Lage at Friday’s pre-match news conference, said the Portuguese was isolating from the squad but still handling some of his duties remotely.
“Bruno’s still been out there from a distance, organising the main parts of the work, but tomorrow he won’t travel, which is a shame,” Roberts said.
Wolves, who are in eighth place on 49 points, have not beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the league since March 1979.
“It’s all about performance. If we have a good performance we have a chance of winning,” Roberts said. “We’ve worked hard this week and to put on a great performance gives us a chance to get three points.
“They are a good team and we will put up a good fight.”
Wolves have lost their last three league games, but Roberts denied that the team were suffering from a lack of confidence.
“No not at all,” he said. “Day-to-day we’ve seen what we need to do. Each team goes through bad spells but the boys are working ever so hard on the training round to correct it.”
Chelsea vs Wolves latest updates 14:37 , Karl Matchett
Chelsea and Wolves fewer than 30 minutes away from kick-off now.
Chelsea vs Wolves latest 14:22 , Karl Matchett
Chelsea are third heading into the game, Wolves eighth.
Victory for the Blues will mean they hold an eight-point advantage over fifth-place Spurs, in the race for the Champions League. Spurs play Liverpool later tonight and have four games to go in total.
Wolves can go level with West Ham if they win though, with the Hammers not in action until tomorrow against Norwich.
Chelsea vs Wolves confirmed line-ups 14:03 , Karl Matchett
More team news as the Wolves XI emerges: Much as you’d expect, with Jonny and Ait-Nouri at wing-back, while Pedro Neto partners Raul Jimenez up front. Both Neto and Jonny have been missed this year with long-term injuries.
WOL XI: Sa, Jonny, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Ait-Nouri, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Jimenez, Neto
Chelsea vs Wolves confirmed line-ups 14:02 , Karl Matchett
Team news time! The big news is a return for the £100m front man Romelu Lukaku, while birthday boy from yesterday Mateo Kovacic is also into the side.
CHE XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, James, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Alonso, Pulisic, Lukaku, Werner
Chelsea news: £4.25bn sale agreed to Boehly consortium 13:55 , Karl Matchett
Worth a reminder ahead of the team news of the really big Chelsea news today: The club sale to Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital consortium has been agreed.
Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Boehly has won the race to buy the Blues amid the most public major sports franchise takeover in history.
Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss must now wait for Premier League and UK government approval before rubber-stamping the takeover.
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for a new ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss, to acquire the club,” a Chelsea statement read.
Full details:
Chelsea confirm Todd Boehly consortium sign £4.25bn agreement to buy club
Chelsea latest news 13:45 , Karl Matchett
Team news on the way shortly for Chelsea’s Premier League match against Wolves.
Thomas Tuchel with big calls to make in midfield and, as usual, on whether Romelu Lukaku is to be called back into the line-up in attack.
Chelsea Women’s WSL title bid is a pressure release, not a worry, says Emma Hayes 13:30 , Karl Matchett
Emma Hayes says her anxiety is reserved for getting son Harry to school on time rather than trying to deliver a third consecutive Women’s Super League title for Chelsea on the last day of the season.
Leaders Chelsea head into their final game at home to Champions League-chasing Manchester United on Sunday with a one-point advantage over Arsenal.
The Gunners finish their season at West Ham knowing victory over their London rivals may not be enough to stop Chelsea claiming a fifth WSL title.
Asked if she suffers from nerves ahead of big games, Hayes said at her pre-match press conference: “Do you know I get really nervous when Harry won’t get out of the door in time to get to school. That’s when I get anxious.
“I get nervous around my child going too fast on his bike towards the end of the road. Terrified. That’s nerves.
“This is pleasure, joy, release. Being in a dressing room of people who are amazing.
“This season hasn’t been plain sailing, it was always going to go to the last day and we’re ready.”
Hayes is on the brink of winning a 10th major trophy as Chelsea manager and downplayed the pressure at a club used to success.
She said: “I’m from a council estate, trust me pressure was putting money on the table to pay the bills as a child. This is not pressure.
“Look at the inflation, the rising costs for people to pay their bills. Football is far from pressure. I enjoy the situation, but more importantly I enjoy representing a club I absolutely adore.
“To be in a position where we can continue to win on behalf of Chelsea is something I think I was born for.”
Chelsea have the double in their sights with the FA Cup final against Manchester City to come on May 15.
Chelsea sale latest news 13:20 , Karl Matchett
…and part two of the Chelsea timeline under Roman Abramovich
2012-2013
Villas-Boas’ assistant and club legend Roberto Di Matteo was brought in to see out the rest of the 2011-12 season and led Chelsea to their first Champions League triumph when they beat Bayern Munich at their home stadium, the Allianz Arena.
Di Matteo was then named permanent manager but was sacked in November after Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League and replaced by former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez for the remainder of the campaign.
The move was unpopular with supporters but he delivered success in the form of Chelsea‘s first Europa League trophy.
2013-16
Mourinho returned to Chelsea for a two-and-a-half year spell and won the club’s first Premier League title since 2010 in his second season in charge.
But a poor run of form in the 2015-16 season saw him dismissed in December after he lost the dressing room.
Hiddink stepped in again for a second time but could not salvage the season as Chelsea finished 10th in the league — their lowest placing in the Abramovich era.
2016-2019
Italy coach Antonio Conte arrived and he had an immediate impact at Chelsea, winning the Premier League title in his first season. He led the club to FA Cup success in 2017-18 but was sacked after Chelsea failed to finish in the top four.
Compatriot Maurizio Sarri took over and enjoyed a successful year in charge at Stamford Bridge, winning the Europa League and finishing third in the league, but left for Serie A side Juventus at the end of the season.
Club legend Frank Lampard returned to London and guided Chelsea, operating under a transfer embargo, to a fourth-placed finish in the league.
2020-2021
Chelsea spent 200 million pounds in the transfer window before the 2020-21 campaign as they looked to bridge the gap to Liverpool and Manchester City but Lampard was sacked in January with the team languishing in ninth.
After Thomas Tuchel took over, Chelsea edged out a top four finish and won their second Champions League title in May 2021.
Tuchel’s first full season included UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup success, while they are currently third in the league.
2022
Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale in March following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine before sanctions were imposed on the oligarch by the British government, effectively giving it control of the club.
The club is sold in May to a consortium led by Todd Boehly for 4.25 billion pounds.
Chelsea sale latest 13:10 , Karl Matchett
Reuters have compiled a timeline of the Roman Abramovich era. Here’s part 1:
2003-2004
Abramovich bought the Premier League club from Ken Bates in 2003 for a reported 140 million pounds ($172.70 million).
The Russian arrived at Chelsea in June and went on a 100 million pounds spending spree in his first transfer window, bringing in the likes of Juan Sebastian Veron, Hernan Crespo and Claude Makelele.
Claudio Ranieri’s side finished second behind champions Arsenal in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, before the Italian manager was dismissed at the end of the campaign.
2004-2007
Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho took over at Stamford Bridge after winning the Champions League with Porto in May and guided Chelsea to Premier League and League Cup success in his first season at the helm.
Chelsea retained the league title the following season, and added another League Cup as well as an FA Cup to their collection in 2006-07 but relinquished the league crown to Manchester United.
The Champions League remained out of Mourinho’s grasp during his time in London and he left the club in September 2007.
2007-2009
Avram Grant, who was appointed Chelsea‘s director of football in July, succeeded Mourinho and took Chelsea to their first Champions League final in 2008 but departed after a trophy-less campaign.
Luiz Felipe Scolari arrived in London as a World Cup-winning manager with a glittering CV but was sacked after only seven months in charge, with Chelsea sitting fourth in the Premier League and in contention for the Champions League.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink was named interim manager until the end of the season as Chelsea went on to win the FA Cup and secured Champions League football with a third-placed finish in the Premier League.
2009-2012
Carlo Ancelotti was next through the door at Chelsea and led them to their only Premier League and FA Cup double in his first season in charge.
The Italian coach was unable to repeat his achievements the following campaign, however, as Chelsea finished second in the league and Ancelotti was sacked after a trophy-less 2010-11 season.
Andre Villas-Boas replaced Ancelotti after winning four trophies in the previous season with Porto but the Portuguese coach was dismissed nine months into the job, winning less than half of his games in charge.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel on Mateo Kovacic 13:00 , Karl Matchett
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says Mateo Kovacic is a “very important” player for the Blues and his full return from injury could prove decisive across the final weeks.
Quite aside from the off-field matters, there’s an FA Cup final on the horizon and still Premier League points to accumulate to secure a top-four finish, or third preferably for the manager.
Here’s what the boss has to say ahead of today’s match with Wolves:
Chelsea sale latest news 12:40 , Hritika Sharma for Reuters
Following is the process for the takeover of Chelsea Football Club after the English Premier League side said a consortium, led by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and backed by Clearlake Capital, had won the bid to acquire the club.
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
The Clearlake-Boehly consortium, which was selected by New York bank Raine as Chelsea‘s preferred bidder last week, will sign a binding agreement to acquire the club.
Chelsea‘s Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, cleared the path for the takeover on Thursday after he dismissed reports that he wanted the repayment of a loan to the club, reportedly worth 1.5 billion pounds ($1.85 billion).
SPECIAL LICENCE
Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale after Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine but before Britain imposed sanctions on the oligarch, effectively giving the government control of the club.
The British government will issue a special license for any sale after receiving satisfactory evidence that Abramovich will not make any financial gain from the deal.
PREMIER LEAGUE OWNERS’ AND DIRECTORS’ TEST
After receiving the licence, the consortium will need to pass the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test before completing a takeover.
The test outlines requirements that would prohibit an individual from becoming an owner or director of a club.
These include criminal convictions for a wide range of offences, a ban by a sporting or professional body, or breaches of certain football regulations such as match-fixing.
MAY 31 DEADLINE
In March, Chelsea were issued a special government licence which allowed some exemptions to the asset freeze restrictions, in order to allow the club to fulfil their fixtures.
Chelsea need the sale to be completed by May 31, when the licence expires.
Chelsea sale news latest – who are the key players in the buyout? 12:20 , Nick Purewal, PA
Todd Boehly
The Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner is the co-founder and chief executive of Eldridge Industries. Boehly set up the private investment firm in 2015, having flourished at Guggenheim Partners since 2001. The 46-year-old boasts a personal net worth of 4.6 billion US dollars according to Forbes. Boehly made a bid to buy Chelsea in 2019, carrying out significant due diligence on the Stamford Bridge club. That groundwork handed Boehly an edge this time around, with just eight weeks to race through a takeover that could take nine or more months under no pressure.
Clearlake Capital
Behdad Eghbali will act as Clearlake’s main voice in the incoming Chelsea ownership set-up. The Clearlake co-founder will tuck in behind Boehly but provides an important presence in explaining the US investment firm’s role in the new Stamford Bridge ownership structure. Clearlake’s majority stake in Chelsea could rise as high as 60 per cent, but the Boehly consortium is understood to have agreed to a number of clauses in the sale designed to protect Chelsea‘s future. Founded in 2006, Clearlake now boasts more than 72 billion US dollars of assets under management.
Mark Walter
The US tycoon is chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, which now holds more than 310 billion US dollars under management. Walter helped found the firm in the late 1990s. Walter has co-owned the LA Dodgers since 2012 when his investment group bought the baseball outfit for 2.2 billion US dollars. Walter’s personal net worth is rated at 3.3 billion US dollars by Forbes. Walter had a clear hand in the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series triumph and impressive administration, raising hopes of similar influences now at Chelsea.
Hansjorg Wyss
Swiss billionaire Wyss founded medical device manufacturer Synthes Holding AG. The Wyss Foundation has more than 2 billion US dollars in assets. Wyss is thought to be among the world’s biggest philanthropists, especially in donations to environmental causes. Wyss gained degrees from Zurich’s Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Harvard Business School. Stints in the textile, steel and aviation industries followed, before his switch to medical devices.
Latest Chelsea sale news 12:00 , Karl Matchett
Worth noting that in just three hours, Chelsea are in actual on-pitch action as they face Wolves in the Premier League.
The Blues have won just once in the last four and need to rediscover form to ensure they retain their Champions League placing, with Spurs five points back in fifth. A win here today will go a long way towards letting fans look forward to next season with huge optimism.
Wolves on the other hand have lost three in a row and any hopes of European football for next term have rapidly faded – they need to finish at least seventh but are now eighth three points back from West Ham, albeit with a game in hand.
The match is at Stamford Bridge and we’ll have live coverage of the game for you right here.
Chelsea sale latest news 11:45 , Karl Matchett
Roman Abramovich will soon no longer be the Chelsea owner, with the entire sale process starting as a result of the government alleging proof of his links to Vladimir Putin amid the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
There has been no public message from Abramovich against the war, per AP’s Rob Harris, who also notes Abramovich’s past comments against antisemitism and racism.
Chelsea sale latest news 11:30 , Karl Matchett
What happened to Lewis Hamilton’s involvement, you might be asking?! A reasonable question, given the Formula One star suddenly and randomly found himself in the headlines over being part of one of the bids.
However, he’ll have no place at Chelsea when this deal goes through – the Mercedes icon was involved in the consortium headed up by Sir Martin Broughton, which effectively seems to have been the ‘runner-up’ in this particular race.
Hamilton and tennis legend Serena Williams were named as two sports stars each committing £10m to that bid, with the F1 seven-time champion saying it would be “the ultimate dream” to be part of a team taking over Chelsea.
That came in response to F1 rival Max Verstappen calling out Hamilton, who is an Arsenal supporter, suggesting it was “interesting” he’d buy a rival side and claiming he’d never buy Ajax himself, being a PSV fan.
Chelsea sale latest news 11:15 , Karl Matchett
Yesterday, amid reports of Roman Abramovich changing the terms of the deal and before Chelsea confirmed an agreement of sale, the Russian owner of the club denied any change of heart over selling.
Abramovich insisted his position over the sale of Chelsea FC is unchanged and has denied asking for any loan to be repaid to him.
Reports have suggested that Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich, who was sanctioned by the UK Government on March 10 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, could insist on his £1.5billion loan to Chelsea being repaid.
In a statement posted on the Chelsea website, a spokesperson for the club owner, said: “Firstly, Mr Abramovich’s intentions in relation to gifting the proceeds from the Chelsea sale to charity have not changed.
“Since the initial announcement, Mr Abramovich’s team has identified senior representatives from UN bodies and large global charitable organizations who have been tasked with forming a Foundation and setting out a plan for its activities.
“The lead independent expert has had conversations with Government representatives presenting the structure and initial plans.
“Mr Abramovich has not been involved in this work and it has been managed independently by experts with years of experience working in humanitarian organisations.”
Full report:
Roman Abramovich’s position over Chelsea sale remains ‘unchanged’
Chelsea sale: What happens next after Todd Boehly agrees to pay £4.25bn for club? 11:00 , Karl Matchett
US business tycoon Todd Boehly has agreed a £4.25billion deal to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the state of play at Stamford Bridge, including how the deal was agreed, what happens next and what might occur if the deal hits any problems before being completed.
What happens next at Chelsea after Boehly agrees to pay £4.25bn for club?
Chelsea sale latest news 10:30 , Karl Matchett
Where do we begin with all this backstory, then? Let’s go for exactly who the soon-to-be new owner is first, for those who haven’t followed either his sporting businesses in America or the entire chain of events at Stamford Bridge.
A consortium led by the American businessman and investor Todd Boehly has been named as the preferred bidder for the club, which has been put up for sale by Roman Abramovich after the Russian was sanctioned following his country’s invasion of Ukraine. On Friday night/Saturday morning, it emerged that a deal has been signed by the relevant parties and he’s now set to complete the takeover across the coming weeks.
He has teamed up with fellow Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walters, British businessman Jonathan Goldstein, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and US investment firm Clearlake Capital. The group appears set to beat out three other shortlisted bidders, plus a late offer from Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Owner of Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise the Dodgers, Boehly graduated from William & Mary university in 1996 and also studied at the London School of Economics.
Here’s everything you need to know about Dodgers, LA Sparks, LA Lakers and DraftKings owner Boehly:
Who is Todd Boehly? Preferred Chelsea bidder and LA Dodgers owner
Chelsea confirm Todd Boehly consortium has signed £4.25bn agreement to buy club 10:13 , Karl Matchett
Chelsea have confirmed Todd Boehly’s consortium has agreed terms to buy the Stamford Bridge club from Roman Abramovich in a £4.25billion deal.
Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Boehly has won the race to buy the Blues amid the most public major sports franchise takeover in history.
Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss must now wait for Premier League and UK Government approval before rubber-stamping the takeover.
“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for a new ownership group, led by Todd Boehly, Clearlake Capital, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss, to acquire the club,” a Chelsea statement read.
“Of the total investment being made, £2.5billion will be applied to purchase the shares in the club, and such proceeds will be deposited into a frozen UK bank account with the intention to donate 100 per cent to charitable causes as confirmed by Roman Abramovich.
“UK Government approval will be required for the proceeds to be transferred from the frozen UK bank account.
“In addition the proposed new owners will commit £1.75billion in further investment for the benefit of the club.”
For the full report on the club statement, see here:
Chelsea confirm Todd Boehly consortium sign £4.25bn agreement to buy club