CHELSEA are targeting Norwich’s Stuart Webber as their next sporting director.
Webber, 38, who has been sporting director at Carrow Road since 2017, is a leading candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge.
During the summer, new Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly stepped in as interim sporting director to help lead the club’s transfer strategy after lead negotiator and director Marina Granovskaia left the club. She was followed by technical and performance adviser Petr Cech.
Chelsea are aiming to appoint a sporting director before the World Cup begins in November and new manager Graham Potter will have a say in the process.
With a deal for a technical director almost wrapped up – Christopher Vivell has agreed to join after his abrupt departure from RB Leipzig – Chelsea are now reigniting their search for a sporting director.
Webber has earned a good reputation within football at Norwich, even though two successful promotions from the Championships were followed by two nightmare seasons in the Premier League.
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Yet Norwich remain debt free and Webber has also been instrumental in improving the training ground facilities.
He was previously sporting director at Huddersfield and has also worked for Wolves, QPR, Liverpool and Wrexham.
Chelsea have already spoken to Michael Edwards over the vacant sporting director role but the former Liverpool chief remains adamant he will not return to work this season.
Edwards, who left Anfield this summer after 11 years at the club, was among the primary targets of Boehly, who was thoroughly impressed with Edwards’ outstanding transfer record during his time at Liverpool.
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Chelsea have already spoken to other respected figures such Paul Mitchell, Monchi, Tim Steidten, Victor Orta, Lee Congerton and Luis Campos.
The west London club also thought they had a deal struck with Salzburg’s Christoph Freund but were met with a public rejection of their advance.
The Blues had been hopeful that Freund could be convinced to join the club but Salzburg stood firm over their refusal to allow him to leave.
If offered the job, Webber is likely to accept and move to Chelsea from Norwich.
Webber, who appointed both Danial Farke and Dean Smith as managers, has received criticism in Norfolk not only for another nightmare Premier League campaign last term.
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But also during last season, he was criticised for announcing his intention to climb Mount Everest.
Webber’s wife, Zoe Ward, is also on the board at Norwich.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
