Newcastle United are reportedly set to raid Chelsea for a number of backroom staff members as they look to reshape the club following their takeover.
The Magpies were bought by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund last October and have launched a recruitment offensive as they look to put the club among the best in Europe. That is said to have led them to Chelsea academy bosses as they look to replicate the success of the Blues in churning out academy players able to develop into first-team players.
It comes as Chelsea bidder Stephen Pagliuca has shared his "exciting vision" for the club should he be successful in becoming the Blues' next owner. And Chelsea have been knocked out of the Champions League following a brave performance at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium against Real Madrid.
Here are Mirror Football's latest Chelsea headlines.
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Madrid talking points
Chelsea have been knocked out of the Champions League after losing 5-4 on aggregate to Real Madrid following a 3-2 victory after extra time in their quarter-final second leg in Spain.
It means the Blues will not be retaining the Champions League trophy they won with a 1-0 win over Manchester City last May. Thomas Tuchel's men put up a brave fight at the Santiago Bernabeu as they took a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Mason Mount, Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner.
But the Blues were dramatically beaten after Rodrygo netted an 80th-minute equaliser to take the game into extra-time before Karim Benzema followed up his hat-trick at Stamford Bridge with a thumping header to put Los Blancos through to the semi-final.
It was a night full of talking points, including Chelsea's dominance, VAR controversy and a mixed night for Rudiger.
Pagliuca shares 'exciting vision'
Chelsea bidder Stephen Pagliuca has shared his "exciting vision" for the Stamford Bridge outfit should he prove successful in his takeover of the club.
Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale last month following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Pagliuca has made it to the final four bidders hoping to purchase the club from the billionaire. He has now broken his silence to set out his blueprint for the club – promising Chelsea's "world-class fans" they deserve a "world-class stadium".
And Pagliuca's insisted if successful in his bid he will "support our players and managers to make sure that Chelsea are habitual winners and title contenders".
Newcastle plot Blues raid
Newcastle want two key figures behind the scenes at Chelsea to head up their academy as they continue with their restructure following the takeover by Saud Arabia's Public Investment Fund last year.
Brighton's Dan Ashworth is set to become the club's new sporting director and the club have now reportedly targeted Chelsea academy bosses Neil Bath and Jim Fraser to build a successful academy for the Magpies. The appointment would come as a huge blow for the Blues with the duo having overseen the likes of Andreas Christensen, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount and Reece James all become members of the Chelsea first-team under their stewardship.
