Sir Jim Ratcliffe has insisted that he is 'committed' to taking over Chelsea, despite submitting his offer for the Premier League club well after the deadline.
90min reported on Ratcliffe's potential interest all the way back in March, and on Friday it was finally confirmed that the majority shareholder of chemical group Ineos had made a late ploy to purchase the Blues.
However, recent reports suggest that his bid has been rejected 'out of hand' - although this has not dissuaded him from pursuing the takeover.
"We had a communication with Raine and met with them at the end of last week. We presented a bid but have heard very little back from them," Ratcliffe told the BBC.
"My message to Raine is don't discount our offer. We are British and have great intentions for Chelsea. If I was Raine I wouldn't close any door."
In the same interview Ratcliffe, originally a Manchester United supporter, went on to outline his vision for Chelsea. His plans include expanded Stamford Bridge's capacity while keeping its iconic name and also investing significantly in the club's youth and women's teams.
When asked why his bid had been late, he replied: "I think that is quite simple - it is a big decision to buy a national asset and it's a big commitment in terms of time and money.
"We're there for the long-term that's a lot of responsibility to take on and it takes time to reach a decision to be fully committed.
"We got there at the end of the day and we are committed. We're not giving up."
In the wide-ranging interview, Ratcliffe also admitted he had '"split loyalties" whenever Chelsea faced Man Utd.
Listen now to 90min's Chelsea podcast Wherever You May Be, hosted by Olivia Buzaglo. Each week, Olivia and guests Krishan Davis & Anita Abayomi talk all things blue. In our latest episode, the team discuss Antonio Rudiger's departure, Chelsea's recent form and Reece James.
90min understands the British businessman has received encouragement from within the walls of Stamford Bridge to continue, and he holds out some hope that he could become the club's next owner.
A source with knowledge of the situation said: "He wouldn't have gone this far if he didn't think there was a chance."
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Source: 90min
