Chelsea owner Todd Boehly ‘made late bid to buy Lyon’ this summer but missed out to Crystal Palace investor John Textor
CHELSEA owner Todd Boehly reportedly tried to buy French club Lyon earlier this month.
But the American businessman missed out on a majority share in the Ligue 1 outfit to Crystal Palace investor John Textor.
Boehly has revealed his desire for a multi-club network across the world, similar to Manchester City’s owners, City Football Group.
CFG own Premier League champions City, as well as ten other teams.
And after Boehly took over Chelsea at the end of May, he sought out a deal to buy Lyon earlier this month, according to The Guardian.
That’s despite Palace part-owner Textor already agreeing a deal to buy a majority share in the club back in June.
Read More Chelsea News
Nevertheless Boehly is alleged to have tried to muscle his way in, but ultimately failed in his bid to buy a second football team.
French newspaper L’Equipe say Textor’s Lyon takeover is set to be finalised in the coming days.
Boehly appointed former CFG chief commercial officer Tom Glick as the man to lead his expansion into a multi-club network clubs.
Clubs in Brazil, Belgium and Portugal are all possible targets for the Blues.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
Reports suggest the Blues have already held talks over buying teams in Brazil and Portugal, but as of yet Boehly is yet to expand his network.
Brazilian outfit Santos, who developed the likes of Pele and Neymar, are believed to have rebuffed Boehly and Glick’s advances.
Glick has close ties with Textor, who owns Brazilian outfit Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek, as well as Lyon.
And Textor was reported to have been surprised by Chelsea’s efforts to buy teams in the same leagues as his own.