Boston Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca's bid to take over Chelsea is one of four revealed to have been shortlisted on Friday.
US billionaire Todd Boehly's consortium and another American group that includes David Blitzer, Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris and British politician Sebastian Coe are now also among the frontrunners to take over from Roman Abramovich.
And according to The Athletic, Pagliuca, 67, who also owns 55 percent of Serie A's Atalanta and co-chairs the private equity group Bain Capital, is a serious and genuine contender to buy the club.
The Ricketts family, owners of the Chicago Cubs, have also been shortlisted to become Chelsea owners despite widespread public concern about their potential ownership.