Chelsea are eyeing a move for Red Bull Salzburg’s Christophe Freund as the club look to fill their vacant sporting director role.
Freund is on Chelsea’s shortlist of candidates for the position and is understood to have held talks with the west Londoners over a potential move to Stamford Bridge.
Freund has won admirers for his role at the Austrian champions, in which he has continually unearthed bright prospects before selling them on for significant profit. Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Takumi Minamino and Patson Daka are among the names to have come through the Red Bull recruitment system before making high-profile moves to the Premier League.
According to the Telegraph, Freund has previously turned down a move to Ajax, but a big offer from Chelsea to run the club’s football operations could prove too difficult to turn down.
Salzburg have had success targeting emerging talent from Africa and South America, having taken advantage over the absence of restrictions on non-EU signings.
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is keen to use data to drive decisions and Freund’s success has been built on a data-led approach. The Salzburg director is not the only name in the frame however, with former Liverpool chief Michael Edwards also under consideration.
Michael Emenalo, Chelsea’s former director of football, is also out of work and available. His past experience of working with the Blues could appeal to Boehly.
