Three interested groups remain in the running to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich; the Russian businessman put the club up for sale after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, and an extensive process was carried out, shortlisting four keen parties out of which one has withdrawn their interest since.
It can be expected that whoever wins the bid will restructure Chelsea for the foreseeable future, and one of the main agendas on multiple groups’ dossier is, reportedly, bringing in a new technical director – a position that has been vacant at the club following the departure of Michael Emenalo in 2017.
As per The Athletic’s David Ornstein, one of the leading candidates for the role during this preliminary stage is AS Monaco’s Paul Mitchell. The Englishman has prior experience working in England from 2010 to 2018, during which time he was the head of recruitment at Southampton and later Tottenham Hotspur.
Mitchell switched England for Germany in 2018, joining current Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick at RB Leipzig as the head of recruitment and development. In 2020, the 40-year-old joined AS Monaco as the club’s Sporting Director, but his future at the principality club remains uncertain after reports of turmoil within – in recent weeks.
Mitchell was also spotted with Rangnick recently, sparking rumors of a move to Manchester United instead. As per the report, the German has recommended his former colleague to the club hierarchy, provided they want to change the way day-to-day operations are handled. Newcastle United, too, were linked with a move for Mitchell as part of their recent upheaval, but they chose to bring in Dan Ashworth from Brighton.
Meanwhile, as for Chelsea, the prospective buyers are also winning to keep director Marina Granovskaia in her position, despite her links to the club’s soon-to-be-former owner Abramovich.
