Chelsea could 'make progress' over rival sporting director at Stamford Bridge | OneFootball

Chelsea could make ‘progress’ in their attempts to lure Leeds United director of football Victor Orta to Stamford Bridge as he is still ‘one of the names on their list of targets’, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Todd Boehly led a consortium which completed a £4.25billion takeover of the Blues in May and the American has set his sights on installing a sporting director.

What’s the latest news involving Orta?

According to The Telegraph, Orta has worked his way onto Chelsea’s radar as they look to fill the behind the scenes vacancy.

The report suggests the merits of the 43-year-old, who has played an integral role in the Yorkshire outfit’s recruitment strategy since his Elland Road appointment in May 2017, have been discussed by Boehly and the other decision-makers in west London.

Orta held positions at Middlesbrough, Elche, Zenit Saint-Petersburg, Sevilla and Real Vallodolid before heading to Leeds.

It is understood that Boehly is looking to fill the sporting director role ahead of the upcoming World Cup in Qatar and Graham Potter, who was appointed as Chelsea’s head coach earlier this month, has also been involved in the process of finding the right candidate.

Orta helped to get deals over the line as Leeds spent close to £100million during the summer transfer window, but a move to a Premier League rival could be on the cards.

What has Dean Jones said about Orta?

Jones believes Chelsea fans should keep tabs on Orta as there is a possibility that progress could be made over a move from Leeds to the capital.

The journalist understands the Leeds director of football remains on the Blues’ shortlist of sporting director contenders.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Victor Orta is still somebody that we should be looking out for.

“There could be some progress on that front as he’s one of the names on their list.”

Have Chelsea been frustrated in their attempts to hire a sporting director?

CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has revealed that Michael Edwards was ‘blown away’ by the project on offer at Chelsea but maintained he was unavailable due to wanting to take a year-long break from football having left Liverpool in the summer.

After failing to persuade Edwards to make the move to west London, Boehly was keen to acquire Christoph Freund from Red Bull Salzburg and opened talks over personal terms.

But Freund confirmedentertaining a switch to Chelsea, so the Blues have been forced to head back to the drawing board.