MMA star McGregor makes his opening bid of £1.5billion to buy Chelsea on Twitter

Conor McGregor has entered the bidding war for Chelsea with an offer of £1.5billion as other global billionaires consider a purchase.

The Blues' Russian owner Roman Abramovich dramatically announced earlier this week he was looking to sell the club due to growing economic sanctions in the UK and amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Sportsmail understands he is looking for a quick sale.

And MMA star McGregor, who previously expressed an interest in buying Chelsea despite being a self-confessed Manchester United fan, made a bid for the club on Twitter worth half the £3bn wanted by Abramovich.

Responding to a news story stating Abramovich's price tag for Chelsea is £3billion, 'the Notorious' tweeted: 'I hereby put forward my offer of £1.5bn' on the social media site.

The news comes as Turkish businessman Muhsin Bayrak, said to be worth £8bn, claims he is locked in talks with Abramovich's team regarding buying the club, rivalling tycoons Todd Boehly and Hansjorg Wyss.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised questions in UK parliament about potentially imposing sanctions on Abramovich, meaning he is now offloading all of his London assets before the British government can penalise him.

American and Swiss tycoons Boehly and Wyss appeared the frontrunners to meet his rumoured £3billion asking price, but Bayrak has now claimed he will be 'flying the Turkish flag in London soon'.

'We are negotiating the terms of the purchase of Chelsea with Roman Abramovich's lawyers,' the businessman, whose family is one of the most important in Turkey, told Turkish outlet Yeni Safak.

'We are in the negotiation phase for the signatures. We will fly the Turkish flag in London soon. We made our offer. Because of the war with Russia and Ukraine in the world.

'Because they find Turkey safe, they want to get most of the after-sales money in Turkey... we are planning to sign soon.'

Bayrak is the leader of the Mutki Tribe of Bitlis, one of the largest families in Turkey, as well as Chairman of the Board of AB Group Holding, which has investments in crypto, construction, tourism and energy sectors.

'Roman Abramovich has confirmed that he will sell Chelsea, which he bought in 2003, on the club's official website. Our Holding Lawyers and Roman Abramovich's lawyers have been in touch since the first day Chelsea entered the sales process,' Chelsea's potential suitor added.

'The negotiation process has come to an end and we are planning to sign soon. This sale is also very important for Turkey.'

Abramovich has reportedly instructed American bank Raine Group to handle the sale and it is understood the Russian is targeting American buyers as investment from China, the Far East and Eastern Europe has dried up for clear political reasons.

McGregor, 33, makes somewhere between £25m and £50m for a UFC fight, depending on pay-per-view sales.

He also famously made £100m for his huge crossover bout with Floyd Mayweather in 2017.

His Proper No 12 whiskey brand has proved to be his biggest earner, the Dubliner reportedly selling his majority stake for £430m last year - but questions remain over his ability to afford Chelsea.