Chelsea look for sporting director
Boehly takes on acting role as Granovskaia leaves post Chairman to work closely with Tuchel in transfer window
Chelsea will begin the search for a new sporting director after confirming that Marina Granovskaia has left her post as part of changes to the club’s board.
As first reported by Telegraph Sport on Monday, Granovskaia has followed Bruce Buck out of Chelsea, with co-owner Todd Boehly taking over the chairmanship and assuming Granovskaia’s responsibilities regarding transfers and contracts until a full-time sporting director is appointed.
Boehly’s decision to name himself acting sporting director has shocked some of Chelsea’s Premier League rivals.
Chelsea confirmed Granovskaia would remain “available” to Boehly and the club for the remainder of the summer window, but she no longer has a position at Stamford Bridge and will not play an active part in transfer business.
Boehly and head coach Thomas Tuchel will lead this summer’s business while the club find a new sporting director, and questions remain over the future of technical and performance adviser Petr Cech.
Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta has already been linked with the sporting director role, while the club are likely to discover the plans of Michael Edwards, who has left his position at Liverpool. Chelsea’s former director of football Michael
Emenalo is out of work after turning down a role at Newcastle United.
Boehly and Tuchel’s first task will be to start on this summer’s incoming transfer business after finalising a £7 million, 12-month loan deal for
Romelu Lukaku to return to Inter Milan.
Raheem Sterling is near the top of a list of attacking targets who also include Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele and Everton’s Richarlison. Arsenal target Gabriel Jesus has also been offered to the club.
Boehly and Tuchel must also make urgent moves for defenders, with Jules Kounde and Matthijs de Ligt on an eight-man shortlist, and decide on the future of captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who could be replaced by Lens right-back Jonathan Clauss.
The Chelsea statement announcing Boehly as chairman and interim sporting director also revealed that British entrepreneur Jonathan Goldstein had taken a seat on the board. The club said: “Chelsea FC and Ms Granovskaia have agreed that she will remain available to [Todd] Boehly and the club for the duration of the current transfer window, to the extent required to support the transition.”
Boehly added: “We thank Marina for her many years of excellent service to the club and wish her all the best in her future ventures.
“As custodians of Chelsea FC, we now begin executing our long-term vision and plan for the club, creating an outstanding experience for its passionate, loyal fans and continuing to challenge for top honours in line with Chelsea FC’S decorated history. Working together, side-byside, we are firmly committed to winning, both on and off the pitch.”