The Top Candidates For Chelsea’s Sporting Director Position

Todd Boehly has been in sole control of transfers this summer – the first window of the new Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium. And Boehly has been busy with eight new arrivals, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria on the summer 2022 deadline day.

There have been six other new recruits with Wesley Fofana and top summer target Raheem Sterling also arriving at Stamford Bridge. With Marina Granovskaia leaving Chelsea in her role as director this summer, there’s a huge hole that needs filling at the Bridge. The club’s co-owner Todd Boehly had temporarily stepped in to help out as the interim sporting director, but wants to find a permanent solution before the January transfer window.

The American owner is widely believed to have done a solid job, although the success of the new arrivals will be better judged next May. He was though left in an awkward predicament with Romelu Lukaku wanting out. He also had to replace two defenders, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, who walked away on free transfers.

Boehly though, on the face of it, has done a good job, but he remains intent on adding an executive with football experience.

Marina Granovskaia, who was a close ally of Roman Abramovich, resigned in July. And technical director Petr Cech also departed, along with chairman Bruce Buck at the end of June. It left Boehly standing alone and he is now eager to appoint an experienced sporting director to oversee the club’s future business. And now the club has seen head of international scouts Scott McLachlan depart for pastures new.

Reports state that Boehly wants the new appointment before the January window. But just who Chelsea will go for remains to be seen.

When Michael Edwards went to Liverpool as an analyst, he built a data department that included an astrophysicist, a chess champion and a former researcher on the Higgs boson at CERN https://t.co/Sd4jXU0uWF

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) September 5, 2022

Michael Edwards

High up on that list is understood to be former Liverpool transfer chief Michael Edwards. He stepped away from Anfield last season after 10 years at the club where he made his mark with a number of top signings.

Julian Ward officially took over from Edwards on July 1 and Chelsea were reportedly quick to approach the former Scout. But reports suggested that Edwards turned down a proposal for Chelsea in favour of taking a break from the game.

Whether or not his situation has changed in the 10 weeks since…