Chelsea: South Korean company C&P Sports Ltd become latest group to declare interest before deadline

South Korean company C&P Sports Limited are the latest group to express an interest in buying Chelsea as the hours tick down before Friday night’s deadline.

Merchant bank the Raine Group, who are advising Chelsea with the sale, will end the bidding window at 5pm US time – 9pm in the UK – and will then begin whittling down the offers to a shortlist of four parties.

The Blues have not been short of potential suitors, with consortiums led by the likes of Todd Boehly, Woody Johnson, Nick Candy and the Saudi Media Group all hoping to replace Roman Abramovich at Stamford Bridge.

And now C&P Sports Limited, a South Korean sports management company based on Fulham Road, have revealed they are also preparing a bid ahead of the 9pm deadline, The Independent’s Miguel Delaney reports.

Catalina Kim, football super-agent and CEO of C&P Sports, opened up on their ambitious plans hours before the bidding window closes. 

‘We are preparing our bid [for Chelsea],’ she said. 

‘There has never been investment into a top tier football club made by South Korean capital before. It is time for a change.’

Catalina Kim, the company’s CEO, revealed their plan to bid for the Blues ahead of the deadline

They have until 9pm on Friday to submit their offer for a takeover at Stamford Bridge

Kim set up the Catalina & Partners agency, now the C&P Sports agency, back in 2013 and now boasts a team of 28.

Her company operate in London, Frankfurt and Seoul, but its registered address is just over a mile away from Stamford Bridge on Fulham Road. 

Kim’s most significant dealings so far include brokering international agreements for Manchester City, establishing a connection between Real Madrid and Korea, and introducing Tottenham to tyre sponsors Kumho Tyres.

However, she will face plenty of competition in her bid to buy Chelsea, as there are a host of potential suitors also preparing offers or weighing up whether to submit one.

LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly is also spearheading a consortium to buy Chelsea

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson is another candidate in the race to take over the Blues

While British property developer and season-ticket holder Nick Candy is also interested

A consortium led by LA Dodgers part-owner Boehly and backed by Swiss and British tycoons Hansjorg Wyss and Jonathan Goldstein appears the frontrunner, although New York Jets owner Johnson and UK property developer Candy are also candidates to take over. 

Candy, a Blues season-ticket holder, has even teamed up with club legend Gianluca Vialli in his quest to win the bidding.

Lord Coe, another Chelsea fan, is also plotting an offer for the club with the help of former British Airways chairman Sir Martin Broughton, while the Ricketts family, who own the Chicago Cubs, have expressed their interest.