‘Boehly wants to play Football Manager’

GARY Neville has accused Todd Boehly of signing players without thought and likened his actions to that of the Glazers and Ed Woodward.

The Blues have spent £92.96 million so far this summer – buying Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, Gabriel ‘Gaga’ Slonina from MLS club Chicago Fire, Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli.

Chelsea have also joined the transfer race to sign Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and are closing in on Brighton & Hove Albion left back Marc Cucurella.

Neville said it was as if Boehly thought he was playing Football Manager.

Speaking on The Overlap, Neville said: “The American guy Boehly, looks like he wants to play Football Manager. He’s wandering around a little bit and they’re a bit panicky now.

“You’re wondering ‘oh they’re coming in for De Jong this morning’ because he feels like he has to do something, that pressure is on him. He wouldn’t have had that pressure if he’d kept people that have been there before and just let them operate for a year or two, but it’ll be an interesting season for Chelsea. Obviously, they’ve lost a few defenders as well. They might even lose more to Barcelona.”

Neville also accused Boehly of signing players without thought.

“They’re almost like bouncing around because it feels like he has to do something.

“I’m hearing his name too much. He’s fronted a fund that’s paid two and a half billion quid, but to get rid of all that football operation that’s been unbelievable for that many years and come in and do it yourself, it does feel like Ed Woodward that to me.

“Let’s be clear, firstly, they’re (Chelsea) reacting to what’s available and what other clubs are doing.

“Secondly, you hear his (Boehly) name too much. You look at what Manchester City and Liverpool are doing, (Txiki) Begiristain at City is their sporting director.

“Some people might not even know that, never even hear him or see him, but they get their business done quickly and efficiently.

“When clubs are working well, you don’t hear who’s signing the players, you just sign them. Chelsea have got that sort of, Manchester United under The Glazers, Ed Woodward, ‘I’m taking over, I’m the man now’, ‘I’m going to go out and basically buy the players’ and then they’re linked with every player that Barcelona want, every player that City want, every player that United want.” – Mailonline.