Boehly DEFENDS Chelsea transfer decision with 'grocery store' comment

Cameron Smith

28 Feb 2025 09:10 GMT
4 min read

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has insisted that “strikers are hard to find” following the club’s failure to sign a reliable centre forward since his arrival in 2022.

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The Blues have been linked with a number of high-profile attackers over the past two-and-a-half years, but they have been unable to sign a prolific goalscorer capable of delivering major honours.

Nicolas Jackson has shown glimpses of his talent since his move from Villarreal, however his form dipped over the Christmas period and he is currently sidelined through injury, with Enzo Maresca forced to deploy Pedro Neto in a false nine role in recent weeks.

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Chelsea were on the verge of signing Victor Osimhen from Napoli last summer, but the deal ultimately collapsed and FootballTransfers understands that Ipswich Town star Liam Delap is now the club’s primary transfer target.

Despite fan unrest over the club’s transfer policy, Boehly has defended Chelsea’s failure to bring a proven number nine to Stamford Bridge.

“Strikers are hard to find,” the American billionaire admitted at the Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit on Thursday evening.

“You don’t go into the grocery store and say: ‘I am going to get a striker.’ It is an amazing skillset and you have to have the right mentality.”

© IMAGO - Chelsea want to sign Liam Delap this summer

What else did Todd Boehly say?

A small group of Chelsea fans initiated a peaceful protest against the club’s ownership group ahead of their victory over Southampton on Tuesday night, but Boehly brushed off suggestions that mass criticism could impact decisions made at boardroom level.

“I just think it [criticism] is par for the course. The sooner you learn you are not going to keep all the people happy all the time, the freedom shows up.

“We are just trying to execute a plan and recognise things aren’t linear, and we are trending in the right direction. The trend is moving in the right direction and that’s the thing that really matters.

“In June, it will be three years in charge. That’s not a lot of time. It’s a whirlwind of activity and a steep learning curve, but I think that’s also a good thing.”