Chelsea owner Todd Boehly could be set to complete one of his long-term ambitions at the club following comments from UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin.
The U.S billionaire took over from Roman Abramovich in May when he and partners Clearlake Capital purchased the Blues for £4.25 billion. Work on the pitch has been non-stop one since he arrived, with over £600million spent on players but Boehly has reiterated his ambition of building a multi-club model at Stamford Bridge - a system that the City Football Group have implemented at Manchester City.
"We've talked about having a multi-club model," Boehly said in September. "I would love to continue to build out the footprint. There are different countries where there are advantages to having a club. Red Bull does a good job. Manchester City has a big network of clubs.
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"Our goal is to ensure pathways for our young stars to get on to the Chelsea pitch while getting them real game time. To do that is through another club in a really competitive league in Europe."
Now, Chelsea have been handed a big boost regarding their attempts to create a multi-club model.Ligue 1 side Strasbourg have been touted as one of the clubs on Boehly's radar with clubs in Belgium and Portugal also said to have been sounded out.
UEFA president Ceferin has hinted at the possible relaxation of restrictions that stop clubs with the same owner participating in the same European competitions. Speaking to Gary Neville's The Overlap podcast, Ceferin has admitted the governing body are considering a rule change.
"We've had five or six owners of clubs who want to buy another club," he said. "We have to see what to do. The options are that it stays like that or that we allow them to play in the same competition. I'm not sure yet."
Should UEFA permit the rule change, it would open the door for Boehly to fulfil one of his wishes. Chelsea have recently appointed a new president of business, Tom Glick, to oversee the process.
Strasbourg president, Marc Keller, confirmed earlier this month that he was in talks with Boehly over a full or partial sale of the French side. Any change in UEFA's position is likely to accelerate the move. Currently, the regulations do not allow any entry to European competitions to clubs that 'hold or deal in the securities or shares of any other club participating'.
Though this regulation does not apply if an owner with a 100% shareholder in one club has a 'non-decisive influence' in another club. With this in mind, Boehly would need UEFA to alter their previous regulation should he wish to take full control of Strasbourg.
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