CHELSEA owner Roman Abramovich has announced his decision to sell the club ahead of Saturday’s clash with Burnley.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich confirmed the “incredibly difficult decision” on Wednesday night amid Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine.

The 55-year-old has owned the Blues since 2003 and helped steer the Stamford Bridge club to 19 major trophies.

But his glittering reign in west London is close to an end, with a consortium of billionaires already making their interest in a deal public.

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and American investor Todd Boehly are understood to be two of the parties joining forces and preparing a bid for the Blues.

Abramovich could come under UK government sanctions given his proximity to the Russian state, though he is also understood to have been attempting to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Chelsea’s players and coaches learned of Abramovich’s decision to sell the club late on in the preparations for the Blues’ 3-2 FA Cup fifth-round win at Luton.

And a still shocked Tuchel admitted he will need time to get to grips with the sizeable change on the cards at Stamford Bridge.

“It’s very hard for me," he said. "It hasn’t sunk in yet that this is going to stop. It’s a massive change of course. We did not talk about it (before the Luton match). We accepted it.

“The players have internet connections, they watch TV so of course they knew, they get messages. But still we focused in the preparation only on sports.

“And maybe some players are more affected, some less, but in the end we managed to focus, grow into this game and find the key top win it.

“I don’t think I need to talk about it, I don’t know as much as maybe you think. I’m not a CEO or member of the board. So, I’m very sure the club will speak to us and the players.

“I’m not so much worried because I still feel privileged and in a good place. And I still hope and trust for the best. I’m not so much the person who worries about things I cannot influence.

“It’s big news, it will be a big change, but I’m also never afraid of change, and will focus on what I can influence, and this is staff and team at Cobham.”

The Blues will be aiming for a third successive league win when they head to Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon (KO 3pm).