Behdad Eghbali is reportedly prepared to obstruct any efforts by Todd Boehly to divest his Chelsea shares to external investors due to a deterioration in their relationship.
Boehly and Clearlake Capital purchased the Blues from Roman Abramovich in a £4.25 billion transaction in 2022, with Clearlake Capital possessing 61.5 percent of the club and Boehly retaining less than 13 percent.
Over the weekend, it was revealed that the Blues owners contemplated mutual buyouts; however, Clearlake has since clarified their intention to increase their ownership alone.
It is presumed that both parties possess reciprocal rights and blocking provisions that enable them to veto any third parties that may engage in negotiations.
A recent story from The Sun indicates that Boehly is confident in his ability to get the £2.5 billion necessary to acquire Eghbali and Clearlake’s interests. They contend that Boehly is orchestrating his own departure and will obstruct any efforts to divest his shares externally.
The story indicates that Clearlake, co-owned by Eghbali, is contemplating an attempt to acquire complete control of Chelsea in an effort to resolve the boardroom discord.
Boehly first assumed the role of sporting director after the group’s initial acquisition of the club. His influence has diminished over the previous 18 months, with Eghbali now seen as the most significant person in the club.Chelsea has expended almost £1 billion on player acquisitions in the transfer market since the arrival of Boehly and Clearlake; yet, this expenditure has not resulted in on-field success.
Their recruiting approach has faced severe criticism from both fans and analysts, while the club has experienced the tenure of three managers: Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Mauricio Pochettino.In April, Boehly implored fans to remain supportive of the ownership group and their strategic approach in light of criticism over the club’s management. He informed Forbes: “We must allow the process to unfold and provide them the time to transition from exceptional individual players with remarkable skills to cohesive team members.”
“The positive aspect is that individuals exhibit significant concern.” The unfortunate reality is that individuals are too concerned. This results in instances of frustration directed against the team and the owners. I understand, but we must persist in our current direction.
