Chelsea take first step to following Man City’s multi-club model as they prepare to buy stake in Ligue 1 club
CHELSEA are reportedly set to follow Manchester City’s multi-club model with owner Todd Boehly looking at buying a stake in French side Strasbourg.
American Boehly and Clearlake Capital only purchased the Blues last year from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
GettyChelsea co-owners Behdad Eghbali (left) and Todd Boehly have overseen a troubled first season at Stamford Bridge[/caption]
But there are already plans in the works to recruit more satellite clubs.
The Guardian report Strasbourg have become the target for the club’s ownership and they could look to buy a stake.
There are 11 stakeholders at the French side and talks about the Clearlake Capital group getting involved are believed to be progressing well.
Boehly and Co were thought to be interested in a full purchase before eventually settling on pursuing a partial deal.
That could depend on Strasbourg surviving relegation in Ligue 1, with the side currently five points clear of the expanded four-team drop zone.
Chelsea‘s owners had originally been looking at Bordeaux, the former French champions who have tumbled into the second tier, but moved their interests to other clubs.
They have also been linked with buying a stake in Portuguese club Portimonense.
The multi-club model can be very beneficial for the host club and allows them to guarantee that younger players sent on loan get game time and can be developed away from the spotlight.
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It would also provide the Blues with a foothold in France, a country renowned for its young talent.
City’s owners, under the City Football Group model, currently own or have a partial stake in 13 satellite clubs around the world, including New York City, Palermo in Italy, La Liga side Girona and Lommel SK in Belgium.
Brighton owner Tony Bloom also has control of Union Saint-Gilloise.
This has proved to be of huge benefit with one of the Seagulls’ stars, Kaoru Mitoma, thriving on loan at the Belgian club last season.
