Abramovich reportedly rejects approach for Chelsea from billionaire Ratcliffe

Roman Abramovich has rejected an approach to sell Chelsea to Britain’s richest person, according to the Daily Mail.

Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire boss of multinational petrochemicals giant Ineos, reportedly expressed an interest in buying the club amid speculation that Abramovich could be willing to sell.

The Mail reports that Ratcliffe’s advances were rejected and that Abramovich made it clear he has no intention of abandoning Chelsea despite his recent decision to shelve the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge after problems obtaining a UK visa from the Home Office.

The Mail also believe Ratcliffe’s is among a number of approaches that have been rejected, including from China.

Ratcliffe is a Manchester United fan but is a regular at the Bridge because it is close to his London home. Last season he was reportedly a guest at the Blues’ Cobham training ground.

The Mail quote an anonymous ‘friend of Ratcliffe’ as saying: “Shelling out £2bn or so would seem like a drop in the ocean for Jim but at the moment he is torn about what to do.”

Last month’s Sunday Times rich list valued Ratcliffe’s wealth at £21.05bn – more than double Abramovich’s £9.3bn valuation.