Ex-Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards rules out Chelsea move | Football
Former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards has reportedly turned down an offer to join Chelsea’s staff in the back room.
Following Todd Boehly’s takeover of the Blues earlier this year, new ownership ousted almost the entire executive team appointed by Roman Abramovich, with Boehly himself taking over the position of chairman and interim sporting director.
Chelsea are likely to appoint someone full-time after the summer transfer window closes on September 1, but one person who won’t take the job is Edwards, who has turned down the opportunity, according to The Athletic.
He was wanted at Stamford Bridge all summer but is said to have informed Boehly and Co. that he intends to take a break from football.
Edwards joined Liverpool in November 2011 as Head of Analytics before becoming the club’s first sporting director in 2016, overseeing the appointment of Jurgen Klopp and the Reds’ huge success in the transfer market and indeed on the pitch.
During his time at Anfield he signed the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, with the club winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Last November he announced he was stepping down from his role after a decade at Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have just over two weeks to finalize their transfer deal, with Boehly enjoying a decent first summer in charge of the west London side.
So far they have signed Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Carney Chukwuemeka and Gabriel Solina for a combined £168m while they are linked with many other notable players including Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Everton winger Anthony Gordon.
Boehly also has several potential expenses to deal with before the deadline, including Callum Hudson-Odoi, Marcos Alonso, Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja, Billy Gilmour and Kepa Arrizabalaga linked to loan or permanent departures.
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