Shields is currently working as the head of senior recruitment for Southampton.
Chelsea are planning on a deal to appoint Southampton’s Joe Shields as their director of recruitment, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Shields is ‘highly regarded’ by Chelsea for his terrific work at St Mary’s and with Manchester City. Meanwhile, the Saints had a very stellar summer transfer window.
Romano confirmed on Twitter that Chelsea are ‘close’ to reaching an agreement with the Saints.
He wrote: “Chelsea are closing in on the agreement with Southampton to appoint Joe Shields as new Director of Recruitment.
“Huge statement by club owners as Shields is highly rated after his top work with Southampton and Man City, discovering many talents.”
Shields is currently working as the head of senior recruitment for Southampton.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly’s recruitment team will not be complete with the addition of Shields, Romano confirmed for The Guardian.
Boehly has changed a lot of the infrastructure at Stamford Bridge since he and Clearlake Capital bought the club from Roman Abramovich this year.
Chelsea are also ‘poised’ to appoint Christopher Vivell as their technical director after he was sacked by RB Leipzig.
Boehly and co. are also eager to appoint a new sporting director. The American businessman had acted as an interim sporting director for Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea was eager to bring in RB Salzburg director Christoph Freund, however, the Austrian rejected the chance to join the Premier League giants.
“When such a big club asks, it not only honours me and the work of FC Red Bull Salzburg, it is of course also a circumstance that entails personal considerations.
“But I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m in the best of hands with FC Red Bull Salzburg and that a change is out of the question for me.”
