Sir Jim Ratcliffe has shaken the table. Britain's richest man has placed a £4.25 billion bid for Chelsea, blowing front runners Todd Boehly and Sir Martin Broughton out of the water.
I am absolutely gobsmacked by today's breaking revelation and feel that this could be it. Ratcliffe could be Chelsea's answer to what they have been seeking. An owner who is not in it for the profit but in it for the love of the game and the name of the club.
It sounds too good to be true, but his company INEOS have made a statement that has turned the heads of many. They outline all the things that Chelsea fans want to hear. They left out one piece of crucial information, however.
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For me to get behind any bidder, they must have long term plans for Thomas Tuchel as manager of this club. Yes, having financial power and the means to invest in a stadium revamp is awesome, but the main aim should be to close the gap between ourselves and Liverpool and Manchester City.
INEOS' statement touched on a number of must-haves for Chelsea fans. The promise to invest in making Stamford Bridge a "world-class stadium" and continuing to invest in players for the squad is a great way to steal the attention of Boehly's consortium. They also mention the notion of not using Chelsea as a means of profit as they already do that with their "core businesses". The entire premise is tantalising, but they could have sealed the hearts of the Chelsea faithful with one further promise - ensuring Tuchel's security.
There have been rumours bundling around Tuchel's future at Chelsea. Despite the German's outspoken dedication to the club and its development, we can never be too sure what the future holds, as shown by Antonio Rudiger's situation.
After seeing Jurgen Klopp extend his contract with Liverpool to 2026, that sort of commitment is what many would like to see with Tuchel. An owner that believes in the manager as much as the fans do.
On the other hand, just because it hasn't been mentioned, it doesn't mean that it will not happen. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is indeed a Manchester United supporter, which will raise some eyebrows, especially following the mass social media attack on Lewis Hamilton's involvement with Sir Martin Broughton's bid as an Arsenal fan. However, his plans for Tuchel will speak volumes and, in due time, could tip him ahead of the competition.
