The Telegraph’s Matt Law has reported that Chelsea “have held talks over buying a club in Portugal” and that this “interest dates back to June when Boehly met with Neil Bath and Jorge Mendes in Portugal”.
If successful, this takeover would see Chelsea owner Todd Boehly add a second football club to his portfolio, creating an opportunity for the club to build its very own multi-club empire.
Chelsea Hold Talks With Portuguese Club Over Potential Takeover Deal
Chelsea have held talks over buying a club in Portugal – interest dates back to June when Boehly met with Neil Bath and Jorge Mendes in Portugal #CFC https://t.co/OpWJDYJpGU
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) September 14, 2022
The Multi-Club Model
The Multi-club model, whilst controversial among fans, allows a club to provide their most promising young stars with reliable playing time in a competitive environment. Given just how effective Chelsea’s academy has been in recent years at producing talent, it is no wonder the American businessman is considering this option.
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In a recent interview, Boehly stated that “We talked about having a multi-club model, I would love to continue to build out the footprint.
Portugal’s top-flight, the Primeira Liga, could offer an interesting opportunity in this regard.
Portugal offers a route into the Champions League, a high level of competition and quality in the domestic league. There is also a solid history of players making the transition to the Premier League after showcasing their talents in the Primeira Liga, with the likes of Manchester United‘s Bruno Fernandes and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez being recent examples. All of these factors combined mean that Chelsea would have themselves a sister club that would provide both excellent experience and a tried and tested pathway into Chelsea for their young stars.
This model doesn’t have to negatively affect the so-called ‘feeder club’ either, With Boehly explaining that The Red Bull group have “got Leipzig and they’ve got Salzburg, both of which are in the Champions League.”
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Potentially then, this could be a very beneficial deal for both clubs. Chelsea are provided with an excellent way to nurture their young stars, and the unnamed Portuguese club are provided with a constant conveyor belt of talent which would improve the standard of their team.
Todd Boehly wants to launch a Premier League North versus South All-Star match! ⭐️
Via @Independent pic.twitter.com/DVe7p4gnzT
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) September 13, 2022
