Tal Ben Haim brokering £2bn deal for Gulf-based billionaire to buy Chelsea

The mystery investors have submitted a £2bn offer to purchase the European champions with the promise of a further £500m in funds.

Israeli international Ben Haim played 13 Premier League games for Chelsea and also turned out for Bolton, Man City and West Ham.

Friday is the deadline for those interested in buying the club to submit offers.

New York merchant bank the Raine Group will whittle down a shortlist of preferred bidders following the deadline.

Blues legend John Terry and former women's football star Claire Rafferty are reportedly attempting to buy a 10 per cent stake in the club.

It is through a consortium called True Blue and they are fronting up £250million, but would need to get involved in another bid.

Lord Sebastian Coe joined Sir Martin Broughton's bid, adding heavyweight credence to the former Liverpool chairman's candidacy to buy the Blues.

Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family confirmed their Chelsea bid in a bullish statement, and added influential hedge fund boss Ken Griffin to their consortium.

British property tycoon Nick Candy recruited Chelsea favourite Gianluca Vialli to his bid, with the former Italy striker and current Azzurri assistant coach sure to win favour with Blues supporters.

LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly was the first to emerge as a genuine contender in the Chelsea race, with the US magnate's consortium another to carry clout.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has long been mooted as lining up a bid, but has yet to make his intentions public.

Roman Abramovich put Chelsea up for sale on March 2, amid Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian-Israeli billionaire was then sanctioned by the Government last week, with all his UK assets frozen barring Chelsea, with the Blues operating under strict Downing Street licence.