Todd Boehly ‘will be an excellent owner’ for Chelsea, insists Liverpool chief Tom Werner and reveals his fellow American is ‘working on a stadium solution’ as he welcomes their rival’s £4.25bn takeover
- American Todd Boehly has completed his £4.25billion takeover of Chelsea
- Liverpool chief Tom Werner believes Boehly will be ‘excellent’ for the club
- Werner also claimed his fellow American was planning a ‘stadium solution’
- He welcomed the deal despite Chelsea and Newcastle’s significant wealth
Liverpool chief Tom Werner has welcome the arrival of Todd Boehly after he completed his £4.25billion takeover of Chelsea, and believes he will be ‘an excellent owner’ at Stamford Bridge.
Boehly’s deal was finally approved by both the Premier League and the Government in the last 24 hours following months of uncertainty after previous owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned amid his ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The Government are now satisfied Abramovich will not profit in any way from the sale of the club and now Chelsea can look ahead to a brighter future.
And Werner – who knows Boehly well from their connections in the US – has tipped him to succeed at the club.
When the Liverpool supremo was asked about the competition from Saudi-backed Newcastle and now Chelsea’s lucrative takeover, he told the Athletic: ‘Again, it comes down to the issue of financial regulation.
‘It doesn’t matter who invests in it if teams are subject to the rules then we welcome their inclusion into the league.
Liverpool chief Tom Werner has backed incoming Chelsea supremo Todd Boehly to be a ‘fantastic owner’ for the club
The American’s £4.25bn deal has been approved by the Government and the Premier League
‘John Henry and I have known and admired Todd from his association with the Los Angeles Dodgers (FSG is a fellow owner in Major League Baseball (MLB) at the Boston Red Sox).
‘I’ve had a couple of conversations with him in the last week. He was just picking my brain. I think he will be good for Chelsea. I know they are working right now on a stadium solution. I think he will prove to be an excellent owner.’
He also discussed the financial clout of Manchester City, who just signed Erling Haaland for £51million, but said Liverpool have ‘heart and soul’ after winning two domestic trophies as they compete for a third ahead of the Champions League final.
Werner said he knew Boehly well and tipped him to succeed after arriving in the top flight
‘They certainly have more resources than we do, but we have the heart and soul of Liverpool on our side,’ Werner says. ‘We’re competing in a very tough league.
‘But I think our performance speaks for itself. We certainly have made it clear that part of the reason that we came into this over 10 years ago was that FFP would be with us.’
He also welcomed new financial regulations from UEFA that caps the amount of money clubs can lose over three years at around £50m while spending on wages, transfers and agent fees is capped at 70 per cent of their revenue.
‘UEFA is working on strengthening the regulations and it’s important for us that people observe the regulations,’ he added.
He revealed Boehly had ‘picked his brain’ and told him he was working on a ‘stadium solution’
‘I’m hopeful that they will be strengthened, because it allows all clubs, not just Liverpool, to compete under a very fair system. Certainly, it hasn’t been a deterrent for some, but we work at it.
‘I certainly hope that the league continues to follow the intent of FFP rules and that clubs are regulated.’
It comes as Chelsea’s takeover was finally ratified by the Government, allowing Chelsea to press ahead with their transfer business this summer.
A Government statement read on Wednesday: ‘Late last night the UK Government reached a position where we could issue a licence that permits the sale of Chelsea Football Club.
‘Following the sanctioning of Roman Abramovich, the Government has worked hard to ensure Chelsea Football Club has been able to continue to play football. But we have always been clear that the long-term future of the club could only be secured under a new owner.
Thomas Tuchel will reportedly be given £200m to spend after Todd Boehly’s takeover
‘Following extensive work, we are now satisfied that the full proceeds of the sale will not benefit Roman Abramovich or any other sanctioned individual. We will now begin the process of ensuring the proceeds of the sale are used for humanitarian causes in Ukraine, supporting victims of the war.
‘The steps today will secure the future of this important cultural asset and protect fans and the wider football community. We have been in discussions with relevant international partners for necessary licences required and we thank them for all their co-operation.’
Reports claim Boehly will back boss Thomas Tuchel with a £200m transfer kitty this summer – with Jules Kounde, Josko Gvardiol and Raheem Sterling all rumoured to be on his shortlist.
Chelsea have reportedly drawn up an eight-man list of defensive options, topped by Kounde, who they failed to sign last year.