Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Joe Shields from Southampton and appoint him as the director of recruitment.
The former Manchester City football executive will fulfill a role left vacant after Scott McLachlan left the Blues. It will be one of three major hires with the sporting director role still vacant and after Christopher Vivell was poached from RB Leipzig.
Shields is highly respected in the football recruitment world having helped build Manchester City’s impressive scouting network.
Pep Guardiola has praised his former youth and chief scout in the past for finding players like Romeo Lavia who Chelsea tried to sign at the end of the transfer window for around £50million.
“The guy (former head of youth recruitment Joe Shields) who was here is now in Southampton and brings them there,” Guardiola said.
“It’s an incredible experience at this early age to be ready to play almost week in, and week out. To try to do that is incredible.”
The Blues continue their efforts to add a sporting director with Norwich’s Stuart Webber, Bayer Leverkusen’s Tim Steidten and Leeds United’s Victor Orta among those in the frame.
The new Boehly-Clearlake regime are keen to hand over the day-to-day football operations to specialists after doing the job themselves this summer. They will, however, remain always available to help the new football recruiters when needed.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were boosted by the news today that Reece James’s injury is not serious. The England international was taken off against AC Milan but initial tests show he has avoided any major setbacks.
It is hoped that he will be back next week to face either Brentford or Manchester United, likely missing the next match away at Aston Villa.
