Man who 'discovered' Erling Haaland to become Chelsea's new sporting director

Chelsea in order to remain as Red Bull Salzburg sporting director having been heavily linked to the vacant Stamford Bridge role.The update comes after Freund was at Stamford Bridge last week as Red Bull Salzburg took on Chelsea in Graham Potter's first game in charge - which ended as a draw. Chelsea are even thought to have agreed a deal with Freund with Salzburg notified of his imminent departure before the change of heart - which was explained by Freund to fans.READ MORE: Erling Haaland and five other stars Chelsea's target Christoph Freund has developedThe 45-year-old said: "When a club like Chelsea is interested in you, it is a big honour not just for you, but also for the work of the club in general."But I've come to the conclusion that FC Red Bull Salzburg is the best place for me."We're in the middle of a very intense phase and have important tasks to do in the Bundesliga, Cup and Champions League – that's what my whole focus and concentration are on."Where will Chelsea finish in the Premier League this season under Graham Potter? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.Red Bull Salzburg CEO Stephan Reiter added: "Christoph Freund has been performing wonderful work for us for many years, and only recently extended his contract to 2026.

Jamie Carragher's son has secured a loan move but not all of his new club's fans are happy with the signing.19-year-old central defender James Carragher has completed a short-term transfer to Oldham Athletic, joining the non-league side from Wigan Athletic until the start of January. The former captain of Wigan's under-18s side spent six years in Liverpool's academy earlier in his career and was linked with a move to their Merseyside rivals Everton last season.However, Oldham fans are unhappy with the club's decision to recruit another defender and have taken to social media to criticise the signing of Carragher.READ MORE: Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher slate 'arrogant' Todd Boehly over All-Star ideaOne disgruntled supporter tweeted: “Another f***ing defender, another f***ing youngster, another f***ing stupid signing.” Another added: “Please stop with the defenders.”A third Oldham fan also wrote: “Right, what's the formation for Saturday 9-1-0? Jesus Christ.” Meanwhile, another commented: “Ffs why are we signing even more defenders… so if shez is leaving.

Pep Guardiola was not in the mood to comment on the idea of a North vs South All-Star game between Premier League teams but did question when such a match could be squeezed into football's bulging calendar.

football world has been abuzz with talk of a Premier League All-Star match this week thanks to Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly.Fans and pundits have argued back and forth over whether the North of England should take on the South of England in an annual showpiece event, with some all for the idea and others against an 'Americanisation' of the game.But whichever side of the fence you're on, you can't deny you'd like to find out which team would win. So we at Daily Star Sport took it upon ourselves to simulate the game on FIFA to come up with the answer to that question.READ MORE:What a North vs South match would look like as Todd Boehly suggests Prem All-Star gameThe teams were picked without any rules in place over how many players can be included from any one club so it truly is the best XI from each half of the country.

Todd Boehly's ridiculous north against south Premier League showdown, a hysterical mascots versus kids clash is the way to go.Known as Pee Wees vs Mascots in the United States, the final pre-season NFL outings have a history of turning into anarchy during the half-time interval, as 6ft+ mascots across the nation line up to face children in a chance for vengeance.Enraged by all the spillages and constant requests for photographs, the mascots have an opportunity for brutal demoralisation, which plays out into the greatest of sporting occasions. Sack off your disrespect for relegation, this is the Americanisation we need in this country!READ MORE: NFL star knocks out opponent in boxing debut - but isn't declared the winnerThe traditional half-time NFL viewing would make a far grander spectacle than yet another exhausting end-of-season affair - as well as providing some celebratory cheer.Think Gunnersaurus trying to two-foot someone on the halfway line or Fred the Red attempting the 'siuuu' celebration.HAVE YOUR SAY! Should the Premier League introduce a kids v mascots game? Let us know in the comments section.It appears the ground-breaking idea is already favoured by Premier League fans."It is my fervent opinion that the Americans themselves vastly underrate their own masterpiece.

Chelsea's owner Todd Boehly has confirmed that he wishes to copy the City Football Group model at the London club.

Jamie Carragher tore into Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s “arrogant” suggestion the Premier League should do a ‘North vs South All-Star’ match. The American businessman, who also believes the bottom four clubs of the Premier League could have their own knockout style tournament, also said the division could “learn a little bit of a lesson” from many of the sporting formats in the United States.

Chelsea's 'next sporting director' Christoph Freund was spotted at Stamford Bridge for the Blues' Champions League clash. However, not is all as it seems as Freund has travelled to London with Red Bull Salzburg - where he still has a role. The Austrian side were Graham Potter's first challenge as the Blues boss, with the game finishing 1-1.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp laughed at suggestions that his players could play alongside those from Manchester United and Manchester City after Chelsea owner Todd Boehly floated the idea of a Premier League north versus south all-star game.

Jurgen Klopp has savaged Chelsea owner Todd Boehly's suggestion of a Premier League All-Star match by joking that the Harlem Globetrotters should also make an appearance.Boehly, who also owns Major League Baseball (MLB) side LA Dodgers, proposed the idea of a one off match between players who play for clubs in the north of England against players who play for clubs in the south while speaking at an international investors and creators conference in the US on Tuesday."People are talking about why don't we have more money for the Pyramid? MLB did their all star game this year," he said. "They made $200m from a Monday and a Tuesday, you could do a North vs South All-Star game from the Premier League to fund the Pyramid very easily."READ MORE: Chelsea owner Todd Boehly suggests Premier League all-star game between North and SouthKlopp was asked about Boehly's comments in the aftermath of his side's 2-1 win over Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and the Liverpool boss was quick to ridicule it."Great.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly cited the lack of a “shared vision” behind the sacking of Thomas Tuchel. The American shocked the footballing world when he dismissed the Blues boss barely 18 months after he guided the west Londoners to the Champions League title.

Virgil van Dijk has hit back at criticism of Liverpool after the Reds left it late to dispatch Ajax on Tuesday evening.Liverpool have suffered a shaky start to the season, but were handed an 89th-minute lifeline from Joel Matip after he headed home. And Liverpool's star defender has now hit out at pundits who had already written the Reds off.After the game, Van Dijk told BT Sport: "It was very important to show a positive reaction.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly after his Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne blunder. The Blues chairman has dropped a number of clangers since his consortium purchased the club from Roman Abramovich earlier this year, including asking former manager Thomas Tuchel to use an impossible formation.

Chelsea chief Todd Boehly is said to have subtly implied to Billy Gilmour that Thomas Tuchel was facing the sacking before the Blues midfielder sealed an ill-timed transfer to Brighton and Hove Albion. Failing to find favour with Tuchel following his season-long loan at Norwich City, Gilmour completed a £9million move to Brighton on Transfer Deadline Day.

Napoli fans are banned from attending Rangers’ Champions League clash and the fixture will now be played a day later than planned.The match will now be played on Wednesday, with UEFA citing fears of having a lack of ‘police resources’ owing to the events going ahead to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth III. The European encounter - which is set to be played at the Ibrox - will now be played on September 14 instead.In a statement released by UEFA, the body detailed why they have taken such action: “UEFA today announced that the UEFA Champions League tie between Rangers FC and SSC Napoli, originally to be played on Tuesday 13 September, has been rescheduled for Wednesday 14 September at 21.00CET.READ MORE: Todd Boehly 'wanted Chelsea to use impossible formation' leaving Thomas Tuchel baffled“This is due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and his board of directors might well imitate their Premier League rivals Manchester City by buying feeder clubs to develop young talent elsewhere. Boehly and his board of directors are considering the change in structure at Stamford Bridge - and that could start by buying stakes in continental clubs.The move might lead to the club cutting back on their extensive loan program which has seen 23 players leave on temporary deals for the 2022/23 season alone. READ MORE: Graham Potter 'already eyeing up first Chelsea signing' despite summer spending spree The Sun report that Chelsea 'see an opportunity to improve' by extending scouting and development across Europe and eventually wider.

Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has demonstrated that he "has no idea about football", according to Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel.The American billionaire brutally dismissed Tuchel on Wednesday just seven games into Chelsea's season, and only 100 days into his reign as owner and chief operator of the club.Heidel, who hired Tuchel as Mainz manager in 2009, said that Boehly will "bitterly regret" the decision and that Chelsea will struggle to fill the German's shoes.READ MORE: Todd Boehly 'wanted Chelsea to use impossible formation' leaving Thomas Tuchel baffled"The sacking is grist to the mill of those who are against investors in football. It was purely an investor’s decision," Heidel told BILD."Someone who has no idea about football probably thought that sixth place wasn’t good enough for him and said: ‘Then let’s try another coach.’ After only six games, I can’t think of any other reason."But Chelsea will bitterly regret this decision – they won’t get such a good coach again so quickly."Will Todd Boehly regret sacking Thomas Tuchel? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.The decision to sack Tuchel came as a complete shock, especially as the club had just splashed £273m on new players over the summer, many of whom were bought on the former Dortmund and PSG head coach's recommendation.Friction between Tuchel and Boehly had been building since Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US, but the axe finally swung following the Blues' dreary 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Tuesday.Tuchel's replacement Graham Potter has reportedly been promised longevity and the chance to build his own dynasty, of sorts.

Barcelona this summer, and that's bled into the new season as now new rules have been implemented with heavy fines at stake.10 rules were brought in by Xavi last season, and now three more have been added this term, and they're strict to say the least. The new rules were brought in last season to try and turn around their poor form as the Catalan side sat as low as 12th in La Liga.It worked as they finished second at the end of the season, and they've made a bright start to this campaign too.

Chelsea after replacing Thomas Tuchel this week, but one member doesn't have the greatest managerial record.In May a new Head of Player Development was appointed at Chelsea, as Mark Robinson was given the role. The coach spent 18 years at AFC Wimbledon, and was instrumental behind the scenes at the club until he was finally given the managerial role in 2021.However, his moment in the hot seat didn't go too well, and he was dismissed in March after failing to win a single game in 2022.