British billionaire Nick Candy is "actively exploring a number of options for a potential bid" to buy Chelsea.
Candy, a boyhood Chelsea fan, is trying to form a consortium with a number of international investors.
Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale last week amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine following Russia's invasion.
Candy, 49, believes his background as a property developer could give him an advantage with any plans to rebuild Stamford Bridge.
There are now 20 credible interested parties being handled by the US-based Raine Group, with a deadline of 15 March before assessing a handful of final bidders.