Potential Chelsea buyers told they can approach UK government

Nick Candy and Hansjorg Wyss among interested parties before owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned

Billionaires interested in buying Chelsea Football Club have been told to approach the UK government with potential takeover proposals, after the sanctioning of its current oligarch owner, Roman Abramovich.

Fearing the threat of sanctions, Abramovich, 55, had been rushing to sell the club for more than 3bn, drawing interest from the British property magnate Nick Candy, the Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, the US private equity billionaire and Crystal Palace shareholder Josh Harris, and the American part-owner of the LA Dodgers Todd Boehly.