Chelsea Owner Resigns As Sporting Director As Potter Faces Backlash

• Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has reportedly stepped down as the club's interim sporting director
• Boehly gave himself the role last year and is believed to have overseen new signings personally
• All these new players are yet to impress for the Blues with boss Graham Potter under pressure

Chelsea's co-controlling owner, Todd Boehly has reportedly stepped back from his role as interim sporting director of the club.

Boehly had assumed that role after he completed the purchase of the club from Roman Abramovich in the summer. His arrival saw the departure of long-term director, Marina Granovskaia and legend Petr Cech, who used to oversee the transfers.

The American tycoon is believed to have been in charge of the high-profile players that Chelsea signed, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella and Raheem Sterling. Dennis Zakaria was also added on loan.

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The club has since added Benoit Badiashile from Monaco, plus a series of other young talents. Goal reports that he has used an excess of 350 million euros on new signings.

How have Boehly's signings performed?

The success of Boehly's new signings is still in question, as Chelsea continues to struggle. Thomas Tuchel was sacked in early September and his replacement, Graham Potter has endured a difficult time despite a splendid start to life in West London.

All the new players are yet to live up to their potential, as the 2021 Champions League winners continue to struggle with the same problems of chance creation and convert opportunities, plus frailty in defence.

The Telegraph now reports that Boehly has recused himself from the interim role and has handed it over to new appointments, Christopher Vivell and Paul Winstanley.

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Vivell was hired from RB Leipzig as the new technical director, while the latter is the club's director of global talent and transfers.

Joao Felix to join Chelsea

Vivell's first task will be to oversee the transfer of Joao Felix. Sports Brief reported that Chelsea have reportedly reached a verbal agreement to sign him on loan from Atletico Madrid.

The Blues are in dire need of more firepower up front, with Kai Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling and Christian Pulisic all struggling in front of goal.

The west Londoners now look on course to sign Felix during the January transfer window, to help strengthen Graham Potter's attacking line.