Add another name to the list, the Chelsea backroom staff metamorphosis is all but complete. In less than seven months the foundations have been ripped up, torn out and now replaced. The announcement of Christopher Vivell's appointment as technical director is an exciting one and completes a new-look four pronged attack.
Alongside the able supporting cast of Laurence Stewart (technical director with a focus on football globally), Joe Shields (Co-Director of Recruitment and Talent) and Paul Winstanley (Director of Global Talent and Transfers), Todd Boehly has his wish. The undercard to that is another recruitment cog, Kyle Macaulay, who is extremely close with Graham Potter and may be the intermediary in conversations that the manager can't have.
The formerly totalitarian system was headed and run almost solely by Marina Granovskaia with Petr Cech helping in the most recent years. Before Cech, Michael Emenalo was the closest Chelsea have had to a director of football, though he is now remembered for overseeing Antonio Conte's second summer in charge that saw the purchases of Ross Barkley, Emerson, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata.
READ MORE: Chelsea and Arsenal set to learn midfielder January transfer fate with Barcelona contract talks
The American owners have gone holistic and have something more akin to a recruitment team and the difference in model is light and day. It can be seen as stepping out of the medieval times and into modern football. This is what an elite club's structure should be closer too. How it works out in the short and long-term will have to pass the test of time, but for now it's a total reboot of the systems at Stamford Bridge, and Vivell is the key man at the top of it all.
The former RB Leipzig sporting director comes in ahead of the January transfer window and has plenty to get to work on. Here's a list of tasks which need addressing.
Contract decisions
A wider point here in general would be for Vivell to get the upcoming transfer window right, but that's a bit too simplistic. Other than focusing on specific transfers that may or may not help (Rafael Leao, Edson Alvarez, Josko Gvardiol and the rest), the point here is more encompassing than that.
As much as bringing in new players will be important, making early and informed choices over Jorginho and N'Golo Kante will be just as vital. Should their situations drag on then it could delay movements in the market which may prove costly given the competitive nature of Europe's top clubs.
Also on that list is Thiago Silva, though he is perhaps worthy of making his own decision with Chelsea playing along. Mason Mount signing will also be key.
Create a blueprint
As for incomings, Chelsea have been too scattergun and rogue with transfers for too long. Good players have come in for a lot of money but rarely fit in well. Across the £570m spent since 2020 it is debatable that only Ben Chilwell and Mateo Kovacic have been successes.
Other players are still around but have struggled for consistency and quality by and large. Not rushing into more deals and ensuring that there is a tactical and personal reason for each signing as well as a long-term vision and goal is key to being more efficient in the market.
Don't panic
Easier said than done, but that's why Vivell has come in. The easy thing in modern football would be to see the World Cup, watch Hakim Ziyech and see him as the future of Chelsea whereas the end of the road is likely extremely near. Not being too reactive and playing every move one step further away from now on is part of the plan.
Vivell is the man to look past January and oversee the wider development. It may not come as great news for the fans that are seeing the club in eighth currently and want an immediate improvement, but Vivell's role is to create an atmosphere for success across five years, not to get the best out of an ageing squad.
Liverpool are the example to follow here. With Michael Edwards and Jurgen Klopp following an aligned transfer path and club journey they were able to build one of the best teams consistently seen in the Premier League era. That, ultimately, has to be Chelsea's own goal here.
READ NEXT:
Wesley Fofana suffers knee injury in Chelsea vs Brentford friendly
Chelsea set to announce major new 'signing' next week as Todd Boehly's 2023 plan comes together
Jorginho laughs about Chelsea contract talks as Todd Boehly faces Marina Granovskaia repeat
Chelsea promote key men responsible for Reece James development ahead of major 'signing'
Chelsea promote key men responsible for Reece James development ahead of major 'signing'
