Todd Boehly has come under-fire for his transfer strategy since taking charge of Chelsea. (Image: Getty)
Chelsea’s new transfer target shows Todd Boehly and co. could be steering the club in a different direction.
The American has earned a reputation for splashing big bucks on players ever since taking over at Stamford Bridge.
In the two years that Boehly has been in charge of Chelsea, the business guru has sanctioned over £1billion worth of transfer dealings.
More often than not those expensive deals have fallen flat on their face, with the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly and Mykhaylo Mudryk among the unsuccessful signings so far.
But things in west London could be about to change. That’s because according to The Daily Mail, Chelsea’s next big transfer deal could involve a player currently plying their trade at Stoke City.
Sol Sidibe, son of Potters’ cult hero Mamady, has caught the eye since breaking into the senior side at Stoke earlier this season.
The versatile midfielder made eight appearances for the first team last time out and is expected to feature more for the Championship club next season.
But that’s only if he’s still at Stoke, with Chelsea reportedly one of several big names across Europe keeping tabs on the 17-year-old.
Sol Sidibe has emerged as a surprise transfer target for Chelsea. (Image: Getty)
It’s no surprise he’s attracting so much attention from several clubs, given the regard he’s held in by the Stoke hierarchy.
Speaking at the end of the season, Stoke manager Steven Schumacher said: "I would have liked to have played Sol a bit earlier in the season but the way results panned out it's not fair to throw a 17-year-old lad into your team when you're fighting for your lives.
“He was brilliant when he came on [against Bristol City]. I didn't think he put a foot wrong, didn't pass the ball away once. It was an excellent performance from him and he's one for the future.
“He's been one of the best players in Ryan [Shawcross] and Alex [Morris]’'s under-21s team all season so I'm delighted for him.”
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If they signed him, it would mark a slight change in strategy for Chelsea, who have often spent big on talent since Boehly’s arrival in the summer of 2022.
Instead, targeting players like Sidibe from teams further down the English football pyramid could prove a more sustainable approach for the big spenders.
Especially given the two-time European champions are said to be feeling the pinch of PSR and FFP regulations, which could mean they have to rein in their transfer spending.
