Chelsea to approach ex-Liverpool sporting director

Chelsea are expected to engage Michael Edwards over their sporting director vacancy with owner Todd Boehly previously referencing Liverpool as a "great model" for success. 

The man who helped reshape the recruitment of the Merseysiders and constructed Jürgen Klopp's world-class squad with smart, analytical-powered transfers, departed Anfield this summer after 11 years.

A source close to Edwards has told Sky Sports News that since the 42-year-old's decision to leave was made public last November, he has been approached by Europe's powerhouse teams - Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain specifically - as well as hedge funds and billionaires wanting to buy clubs and have him run them.

With Marina Granovskaia's departure at Chelsea, Edwards is of interest to become their transfer chief, especially as Boehly is an admirer of his overhaul at Liverpool, which stretched to making the Anfield club leaders in analytics and orchestrating the move to a £50m training centre.

At a private equity and venture capital event, the American businessman said: "If you look at the models that are very successful, Liverpool is a great model. They generate a couple of hundred million more revenue than Chelsea and they generate earnings."

The consortium fronted by Boehly and Clearlake Capital are determined to be more measured in paving the path forward.