Todd Boehly’s quest to appoint a sporting director could soon give Chelsea a significant advantage in the contest to sign the next Erling Haaland. The American billionaire is looking for a specialist to strengthen the Blues’ scouting network because former Liverpool director Michael Edwards and Paris Saint-Germain advisor Luis Campos have both been strongly linked to a transfer to Stamford Bridge.
The west Londoners are reportedly in negotiations with Christoph Freund of RB Salzburg for the open position of transfer chief, according to the Evening Standard. Since Michael Emenalo left the team in 2017, Chelsea has yet to fill the post; Marina Granovskaia, who left her role at Stamford Bridge as a director this summer, handled negotiations as opposed to overseeing talent discovery.
According to sources, Freund, who is credited with “discovering” Erling Haaland, would be in charge of managing a prospective network of clubs, with Boehly hoping to emulate the Red Bull and City Group business models under the Chelsea banner. The LA Dodgers owner spoke about his plans for the Blues on Tuesday at the SALT Conference in New York as he attempts to do away with the team’s infamous use of loanees.
Boehly stated, “We’ve discussed having a multi-club concept. “I believe that having a club has benefits in various countries. Salzburg and Leipzig are Red Bull’s Champions League teams. I wish to extend the footprint further. I believe that having a club has advantages in various nations.
“We understand people and human resources. We are aware of game plans and tactics. We won’t claim to be the greatest at scouting football players; instead, we’ll hire the top candidates.
“Chelsea faces a difficulty because even while they can loan their superstar 18, 19, or 20-year-old players to other clubs, doing so puts control over their development in the wrong hands.
Our intention is to provide our young superstars with a clear path to the Chelsea field while also giving them valuable game time. The best way to accomplish it is via another team in a fiercely competitive European league.
The Daily Mail later reported that Boehly had discussions with super agent Jorge Mendes about the possibility of purchasing a Portuguese team in the summer. Any potential Brazilian possibilities would be well-suited to Liga Nos, which is known for producing some of the most exciting new talent in the world.