Chelsea are reportedly ready to set up interviews for their sporting director vacancy - and are looking to target Leeds United's Victor Orta as a primary candidate, according to the Mirror.
The Blues have been looking for a replacement for Petr Cech since the former goalkeeper quit his role as technical and performance advisor in June after new American owner Todd Boehly took charge at Stamford Bridge.
Orta has been with the Whites since 2017 and has been instrumental in the club's rise back to the Premier League, heavily backing managers Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.
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Chelsea were set to bring in Red Bull Salzburg's Christoph Freund but he turned down the role after opting to stay with the Austrian league champions.
Orta is said to be on a shortlist that reportedly also includes former Leicester City and Celtic talent scout Lee Congerton who is currently employed by Serie A club Atalanta alongside Monchi of Sevilla and Rui Pedro Braz at Benfica.
The club's new ownership has seen a big clear-out of a lot of the top-level executives including the likes of Marina Granovskaia and Bruce Buck leaving their old positions vacant - and possibly filled by someone like Orta.
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