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Sources: Chelsea step up takeover talks after £400m development
Chelsea are set to step up their pursuit of a Sporting Lisbon takeover deal after securing new investment funds, sources have told Football Insider
The Blues secured £400million in investment after striking an agreement with Ares Management this week.
The US-based group previously held talks about investing in Man United, but they have now reached an agreement with Todd Boehly’s consortium.
As revealed by Football Insider, Chelsea’s deal with Ares has taken total investment in the club to over £2billion since Boehly’s takeover.
The newly-acquired funds are set to be used by Chelsea to expand their multi-club project.
The project began with the £65million acquisition of French club Strasbourg this summer and attention has now turned towards Portugal.
As reported by The Telegraph, Chelsea are interested in purchasing a stake in Sporting Lisbon as they look to add them to the BlueCo group.
Multi-club models have become more regular in modern football, with the City Football Group and Red Bull Group both enjoying success from pooling resources of multiple clubs together.
Finance expert Kieran Maguire told Football Insider that Chelsea could use Sporting as a ‘parking spot’ for young talent if a deal between the two parties is finalised.
Chelsea have already begun to utilise their partnership with Strasbourg to accelerate the development of youth players.
After signing winger Angelo Gabriel from Brazilian side Santos this summer, the Blues immediately loaned the 18-year-old to Strasbourg to gather more experience.
In other news, Senior Chelsea scout spotted in Man United transfer mission