Christopher Vivell expected to join Chelsea as technical director

Christopher Vivell is expected to join Chelsea as technical director, the PA news agency understands.

Vivell has been Chelsea’s top target to replace Petr Cech, who left his technical director role in the summer.

Chelsea are understood to have held talks for some time with Vivell, who was sacked from his director role at RB Leipzig in a surprise move this week.

Christopher Vivell was dismissed from his role as technical director on Thursday due to difference contrasting views.His duties will be taken over by by the existing setup until Max Eberl's tenure as sporting director tenure begins. pic.twitter.com/ifAWANvfdU

— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) October 7, 2022

Chelsea’s new owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are thought to want to build a multi-club model at Stamford Bridge.

And Vivell’s expected appointment will bolster that ambition, given his experience of similar aims in the Red Bull set-up.

Chelsea will continue to press for a sporting director appointment too, after RB Salzburg’s Christoph Freund ultimately rejected the chance to move to west London.

Freund had been expected to make the Chelsea move, only to have a change of heart after Salzburg persuaded him to stay put.

Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has avoided serious knee injury, with Blues boss Graham Potter relieved by the prognosis.

Fofana hobbled out of Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League win over AC Milan, even leaving Stamford Bridge on crutches and in a right knee brace.

But Potter revealed Fofana will be out for weeks rather than months, in a big boost to the Blues.

“Wesley’s knee, it’s not as bad as we thought, so that’s good,” said Potter.

“After the game you’re concerned, but it will be a few weeks I think.

“It’s considerably