Chelsea bidder Sir Martin Broughton has claimed that he matched eventual owner Todd Boehly's bid for the club last year, missing out once the deal went through in May. The British businessman has also given a glimpse into how he would have run the club differently, taking a swipe at the current owners too.
The Boehly-Clearlake consortium is nearing one-year at the helm now, with things starting to take shape in their image as to how the club should be run. A whole host of backroom changes have been made, with an overhaul of the recruitment team just one example of the change in philosophy.
That has then resulted in a large transfer expenditure too, with over £500m already spent in signings so far. It remains to be seen exactly how this current idea will pan out for the club, however Broughton has given an insight into what else could have been for the club.
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Speaking to TalkSPORT, the businessman said: "I think we bid the same amount as Boehly’s consortium. We certainly wouldn’t have been seeking Tommy Tuchel’s exit.
"We certainly wouldn’t have spent as much either. I think it’s incredibly difficult for Potter with all those new players." The decision to dismiss Tuchel was a controversial one, given his popularity at the club, though the difference in direction between the current hierarchy and the German coach paved way for the switch.
With Graham Potter appointed as the ideal fit, it will still take some convincing for some that he's the right one to take them forward, with the side still languishing in midtable. When it comes to transfer spend, there's certainly further controversy regarding the investment from Boehly so far.
The squad was in need of additions, but the sheer number of signings has raised eyebrows and the latest trend of giving long-term contracts for large money additions means the club have been able to spend the most in the league while splitting up the payments. Other clubs, fans and pundits are far from happy with this process, though it is high risk with high reward and the outcome of that gamble is yet to be seen.
The future will tell if the ownership decision was the right one or not, but for Broughton it's a case of what if things had been different.
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