Lewis Hamilton CONFIRMS Chelsea takeover bid, Real Madrid ‘expect to complete Rudiger transfer’ – latest updates
LEWIS HAMILTON has confirmed that he is part of Sir Martin Broughton's consortium who are bidding to buy Chelsea.
But the Stevenage-born F1 icon also admitted that he is an ARSENAL fan, thanks to the influence of his sister.
Hamilton commented: "When I was young, I used to play football as a kid around the corner and I really wanted to fit in. I was the only kid of colour there.
"All the kids supported someone different and I remember switching between these teams and when I'd get home my sister would basically beat me, saying you have to support Arsenal!
"At five, six years old I supported Arsenal but my uncle Terry is a big Blues fan, so I've been to so many games with him to watch Chelsea and Arsenal play."
Meanwhile Real Madrid are said to be confident of signing out of contract Antonio Rudiger after the Blues centre-back reportedly dropped his wage demands.
Keep up to date with all of the latest updates from the takeover in our live blog...
Good morning Chelsea fans
Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri is laying the track to make a move for Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri this summer, according to reports in Italy.
The Italy defender, 27, is on loan at French giants Lyon and has been linked with a move away from the Blues.
A Citta Celeste report says former Chelsea boss Sarri has already ‘called him’ about the possibility of a move to Serie A.
Chelsea’s embattled and outgoing owner Roman Abramovich suffered suspected poisoning along with Ukraine peace negotiators earlier this month, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Russian oligarch and two officials are said to have developed symptoms including red eyes, painful tearing and peeling skin while acting as peacemakers at a meeting in Kyiv. They have recovered now.
Abramovich is selling the Blues as a result of pressure put on him by the UK government in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
And there has been an update on the sale, as the four parties battling to buy the club discovered they will learn which of them has the backing of Raine Group next month.
The bank overseeing the sale has told bidders it intends to present their preferred bid to the government and the Premier League during the week of April 18.
The suitors were told over the weekend they have until April 11 to refine their final offers.
And Christian Pulisic says his 'worm' goal celebration - after he scored for the USA in their 5-1 win over Panama - was for a young fan with cancer.
The Chelsea winger revealed it was dedicated to 15-year-old Mason Ogle, who has osteosarcoma and was the USA’s matchday ambassador for the game.
Pulisic said: "I met someone really special yesterday. His name was Mason and his one request was that if I scored he wanted to see a worm celebration. That’s what that was for."
Cole 'nervous' on England duty
England boss Gareth Southgate says retired England hero Joe Cole was 'nervous' when asked to present shirts to Three Lions debutants.
Former West Ham and Chelsea midfielder Cole, 40, was asked to help make it a special occasion for new players in Southgate's national squad.
Speaking as part of the promotion for , Southgate said: “I think the nice part before the Covid restrictions was bringing some of the former players back in to present their shirts to the lads making their debuts.
"I've never seen Joe Cole look so nervous. He was more nervous giving somebody else their shirt for their debut than when he was playing himself!"
Guehi approached by Ivory Coast
Chelsea youth team product Marc Guehi might get the chance to switch his allegiance from England to Ivory Coast.
The Crystal Palace defender, 21, made his Three Lions debut in Saturday's 2-1 friendly win over Switzerland.
But he was born in the west African country and - in the build up to England versus Ivory Coast at Wembley on Tuesday - the Ivorians' boss Patrice Beaumelle revealed: "The choice has to come from the heart.
"He will make his own decision. He did well in his first cap for England.
“Maybe we will try for the orange jersey of Ivory Coast - you never know."
Chelsea quartet travel to America
Four Chelsea players not in action for their countries during the international break have travelled to America together, it has been has reported.
Hakim Ziyech, who recently declined a call-up for Morocco, Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, un-capped Englishman Trevoh Chalobah, and Spain’s Kepa Arrizabalaga enjoyed the break in each other’s company.
The Chelsea Chronicle’s article says they have ‘decided to spend some time watching an NBA game between the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets at FTX Arena in Florida.’
Sarri's Lazio tracking Emerson
Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri is laying the track to make a move for Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmieri this summer, according to reports in Italy.
The Italy defender, 27, is on loan at French giants Lyon and has been linked with a move away from the Blues.
A report says former Chelsea boss Sarri has already 'called him' about the possibility of a move to Serie A.
Terry watches England training
Chelsea legend John Terry watched England's current crop in training for tomorrow's friendly with Ivory Coast.
The retired England skipper, 41, was present to see the Three Lions squad warming up at Tottenham Hotspur’s Enfield HQ.
Abramovich - from orphan to billionaire
The BBC have done a nice feature on how Roman Abramovich went from being a three-year-old orphan to one of the world's richest men.
Chelsea's outgoing Russian owner has seen his club win every trophy available to them since taking over in 2003.
But, in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and due to his alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Abramovich's days in English football look numbered.
The says: "This fall from grace for a man who has dominated British football but sharply divided sports fans in the process will be cheered by some.
"But he has overcome huge challenges before, notably in his early life."
Blues bidders to learn fate
The four parties battling to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich will discover which has the backing of Raine Group during the week of April 18.
The bank overseeing the sale has told bidders it intends to present their preferred bid to the government and the Premier League.
Sky News understands a letter has been sent to those on the shortlist, indicating the government will also be asked to issue a licence enabling a quick sale that could be completed by the end of the season.
The suitors were told over the weekend that they had until April 11 to refine their final offers.
Abramovich 'suffers suspected poisoning'
Chelsea's embattled and outgoing owner Roman Abramovich suffered suspected poisoning along with Ukraine peace negotiators earlier this month, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Russian oligarch and two officials are said to have developed symptoms including red eyes, painful tearing and peeling skin while in the role of peacemakers at a meeting in Kyiv. They have now recovered.
Abramovich is currently selling the Blues as a result of pressure put on him by the UK government in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.