The four parties bidding to buy Chelsea have been granted an extended deadline to submit their proposals to take control of the European champions.   

American merchant bank Raine had originally asked for improved bids to be lodged by Monday but extra time has been granted until towards the end of next week, giving time to finalise the details they will present.   

It means the four bidders will be putting together their financial packages and long-term strategies for the club while Thomas Tuchel’s team attempt to turn around their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid after losing 3-1 in the first leg on Wednesday. 

Raine are also expected to wait until Premier League clearance for all four parties before the preferred bidder is presented to the Government, who sanctioned owner Roman Abramovich following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Sir Martin Broughton has headed one consortium looking to buy Chelsea, with other parties led by Stephen Pagliuca, Todd Boehly and the Ricketts family. 

The Ricketts family have met the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST) on Thursday over their attempt to buy the club and insisted they will “fight against discrimination and bigotry of any kind” after protests against their bid.

CST have voiced their disapproval of the family, who own the Chicago Cubs baseball team, taking charge at Stamford Bridge after accusations of Islamophobia from emails and comments attributed to Joe Ricketts, who is not part of the Chelsea bid.

Laura Ricketts has issued a statement after visiting London over the weekend and she is seen as a key presence to the talks around diversity and inclusion. She is the only openly-gay owner of an American sports franchise and has campaigned for LGBTQ issues and equal rights. 

She also watched a Chelsea Women’s game during her visit and talks with CST, which will be held via Zoom, is set to address the emails of Joe Ricketts which have come to light. 

“We had very informative and enjoyable meetings with some passionate fan groups – in particular with Tracy Brown from Chelsea Pride and Kerrie Evans from Chelsea Women Supporters Group,” read her statement. 

“We also met Sanjay Bhandari, the Chair of Kick It Out, and it was wonderful to hear about all the work he’s doing. We admire their approach and would like to introduce them to Major League Baseball. We’re not going to be able to persuade all the fans right away that we will be good stewards of Chelsea – we’re going to have to show them with meaningful action if we are successful in our bid. But I can assure all Chelsea fans that it has been my life’s work to fight against discrimination and bigotry of any kind.

“Coming out as an LGBTQ+ woman has influenced my perspective and sensitivity about diversity and inclusion. I can’t know what it’s like to walk in another person’s shoes, but I can begin to understand and have an awareness of their different experience. And that’s a gift. In the position that I’m in, I feel a sense of responsibility to be an advocate. To me, being an advocate means speaking up, and also listening.”

“We strive to be champions both on and off the field. It’s what makes Chelsea great, and is a tradition we would honour if we were to become the club’s next stewards.”