Boehly revolution continues with sporting director ‘set to agree personal terms’ with Chelsea

Jason Soutar
Reported Chelsea target Christoph Freund before a match

RB Salzburg administrator Christoph Freund is close to agreeing personal terms with Chelsea, according to Fabrizio Romano.

There have been wholesale changes at Chelsea in recent months.


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The Blues were taken over by a Todd Boehly-led consortium in May after Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale.

The American businessman invested over £250million in the first-team squad in the summer transfer window.

Boehly was operating as a chairman and interim sporting director in his first summer window in London.

This is because of numerous high-profile exits in the boardroom as Boehly looked to shake things up.

Director of football Marina Granovskaia left after a terrific spell at Stamford Bridge.

Granovskaia received the Best Club Director in European football award in December 2021.

Former goalkeeper and club legend Petr Cech took on an advisor role following his retirement in 2019 and also departed after Boehly came in.

Bruce Buck – who was Blues chairman for over 22 years – was another crucial figure in the club’s history to leave.

The vast amount of departures means there will have to be some new people joining the club.

After a hectic summer, Boehly has turned his attention to appointing a new sporting director.

RB Salzburg administrator Christoph Freund has been linked with the role and this week he refused to rule himself out of contention.

Chelsea drew with the Austrian outfit in the Champions League on Wednesday and the 45-year-old assumed a highly-visible role at Stamford Bridge on the night.

“You should never rule anything out in football and Chelsea are such a huge club,” said Freund.

“Chelsea is such a huge club in transition. I can’t say exactly what will happen in the next few weeks and months.

“But I’m sports director at Salzburg and I really enjoy it.”

Freund added: “I’ve had exchanges with Chelsea from time to time.

“We spoke a lot more a month or two ago because they were interested in signing Sesko.

“The new owners are interested in how we do things with young players, how we integrate them into the first team.

“But you have (those conversations) again and again with other clubs, that’s it.”

Chelsea are understood to have held talks with both Freund and Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Campos, with co-owners Boehly and Behdad Eghbali open to adding two new administrators to their recruitment team.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are close to completing the acquisition of Freund.

He wrote on Twitter: “Chelsea are now set to reach agreement on personal terms with Christoph Freund as new director.

“Talks on with Salzburg to get it signed soon.

“Freund, man behind top deals like [Erling] Haaland, [Sadio] Mane, [Naby] Keita, [Dayot] Upamecano — ideas, data, talents. He’ll work together with [Graham] Potter.”

Romano later confirmed that Salzburg ‘have been informed’ that Freund is close to reaching an agreement with Chelsea.