Chelsea appear to have found their new sporting director, with RB Salzburg’s Christoph Freund close to taking over.
The Evening Standard reports that Freund, who is Salzburg’s sporting director, is taking on his same role at Stamford Bridge. There, he works closely with owner Todd Boehly and new manager Graham Potter for tactics and player arrivals.
Transfers are where Freund thrived during his long tenure in Austria. Under Freund’s watch, Salzburg acquired, and eventually sold, the likes of Erling Haaland, Sadio Mané, Dayot Upamecano, Naby Keïta and Takumi Minamino. Amazingly, according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Freund made more than $500 million for Salzburg when it comes to player trades.
Now Chelsea and Todd Boehly bring in Freund with more money available to the Austrian. Still, Freund’s eye for talent is something Boehly takes a keen interest in. In addition, Boehly stressed the importance of new manager Graham Potter agreeing to the Freund acquisition. Chelsea’s owner made sure the couple met, taking Potter’s views into account before making a final decision.
Christoph Freund – I’m Not Afraid (Official Music Video) ???? #CFC
⭐️ Haaland, Mané, Upamecano, Naby Keita among their best offers;
???? More than 500 million euros of profit from the exchange of players with RB Salzburg;
???? Meeting with Boehly for Šesko: how it started…
???????? More: https://t.co/j5HrF2yss4 pic.twitter.com/UqdASIgUXg
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 19, 2022
However, the move is not without its setbacks. Salzburg CEO Stephan Reiter is confident that Freund will stay in Austria. Reiter spoke about how neither Chelsea nor Freund approached the club’s management.
“Christoph recently signed a contract with us until 2026, which applies to him as well as players, managers or coaches,” Reiter said.
Chelsea acquire a new sporting director
Right now, Boehly serves as the Blues’ de facto athletic director. The new owner took over in the summer. He oversaw a summer window when Chelsea spent more than any other club in Europe. Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Raheem Sterling cost more than $50 million. Additionally, the long-awaited acquisition of Kalidou Koulibaly sent $40 million to Napoli.
Not to discredit Todd Boehly, but Freund was much more tactical in his spending while at RB Salzburg. He brings a track record of success both in the transfer market and in performance on the pitch. One of Freund’s strengths is his ability to bond with players, evoking emotions that drive success.
Indeed, Chelsea and Salzburg are rivals in this season’s UEFA Champions League group stage. The pair drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge on matchday two, despite Chelsea having a much more expensive team on the pitch.
Boehly can focus more on the chairman and ownership side of the club, letting Freund and Potter have more of a say over the players and tactics at Stamford Bridge.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Sportimage
