According to the Financial Times, Oaktree Capital are among those preparing a bid to buy Chelsea, having already rescued Inter with €275m in financing.
Roman Abramovich is in a hurry to sell the Premier League club after sanctions were imposed on Russian oligarchs believed to be close to Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.
There are several companies preparing bids, and the Financial Times claims one of them is Oaktree Capital.
It would create an interesting connection if it went through, seeing as Oaktree already helped Inter shore up their finances with €275m via Suning’s holding company Great Horizon.
The deal reportedly saw them take over 31 per cent of the Serie A club in May 2021.
Oaktree have been gradually increasing their presence in sport and specifically football, as they already own Ligue 2 club Caen and are working on an investment in Ligue 1.
Chelsea have to sell, as their assets have been frozen as part of the sanctions, effectively meaning they cannot afford to even organise flights to northern England.
Oaktree prepares offer for Chelsea as race to buy football club hots up https://t.co/KVFLqz3Uws
— Financial Times (@FT) March 16, 2022