Chelsea releases Battersea plans

Last month the Blues revealed they had submitted an application to move to the 39-acre site in Wandsworth, but administrators since confirmed a joint bid by two Malaysian companies - SP Setia and Sime Darby - had been chosen instead.

Chelsea posted the images, produced jointly with development partner Almacantar and architects Kohn Pedersen Fox, on its club website, but moved to reassure fans it was 'not currently in discussions with the sellers of the site', although adding, 'we do not know if those [current] negotiations will be successful or not'.

The European champion is considering moving away from its Stamford Bridge home as its existing capacity of around 42,000 is preventing it from bringing in the kind of matchday revenue enjoyed by the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, who have much bigger stadiums.

Chelsea revealed in plans last month that it intended to transform the Grade II listed building on the south bank of the River Thames in to 'one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world'.

Its plan for Battersea was to develop it into a 60,000-seater ground that included the power station's four chimneys.

A statement read: "We firmly believe our proposals could address the unique challenges presented by the site.

"The design would integrate the stadium with the power station in a sensitive, unique and powerful way, with all significant historical aspects of the power station to be retained.

"In creating an iconic world-class stadium we would preserve the four chimneys and wash towers along with the historically significant west turbine hall and control room, all to be restored and retained in their original locations."

Wandsworth Council was happy with the administrators' decision over Battersea, with preferred bidders SP Setia and Sime Darby given a 28-day period of due diligence - running to 5 July - to prove everything is in place to carry out their £400 million ($619.67 million) 'real estate regeneration project', which is also set to see a new tube station to connect to the Northern Line.

Chelsea maintains Battersea was 'one of a limited number of options the club is considering'.

Last October the fans' group which owns the freehold of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO), rejected an offer from the club's owner Roman Abramovich, to buy its shares.

CPO shareholders have accused Chelsea of failing to fully explore the prospect of revamping Stamford Bridge, while Hammersmith and Fulham Council have disputed the club's claims that doing so would be far more expensive than moving.