Football Insider exclusive as Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso stares towards Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who watches from a circular inset.
Football Insider exclusive as Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso stares towards Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who watches from a circular inset.
Chelsea have made an exciting appointment by bringing in trusted ex-Manchester City recruitment man Mark Lawwell in recent days.
That is according to former Everton and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that Lawwell joining the team at Stamford Bridge will be a great move for all parties.
The Blues have moved to add the 42-year-old to their senior scouting group, and he will be playing a major role in recruitment for the first team moving forward.
Wyness made it clear that he has a lot of respect for Lawwell and his father Peter, who previously served as chairman at Celtic across a 21-year stint working for the club.
Chelsea’s new recruit previously worked alongside his father at Celtic Park, heading the recruitment team during his time with the Glasgow giants.
He also spent a decade as part of Man City’s project, where he served as City Football Group’s head of scouting and recruitment.
Mark Lawwell has ‘earned his stripes’
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Lawwell has already “earned his stripes” within top-level football, and serves as a notable appointment for Chelsea.
The Scottish businessman feels that it will also be beneficial for him to get away from the “shadow” of his father’s work at Celtic.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained how bringing Lawwell in is a sensible move from Chelsea.
“Well, look, Mark, I think, was always at Celtic in the shadow of his father, obviously Peter, who had, shall we say, some controversial relationships with the fan base,” he said.
“I know Peter and I've always had a great respect for him. Look, Mark, in terms of coming to Chelsea, I think it's better for him than being at Celtic, where the structure was wrong. We've discussed that many times.
“He will perform well as a first-team scout at Chelsea, as he’s got a very experienced pair of eyes. People forget he's had experience being at City Football Group and he's been around the block and earned his stripes.
“So I think it's a good appointment for Chelsea, and I think it'll do him the world of good as well to be away from the shadow of his father.”
Chelsea sweating over Josh Acheampong deal
Former Tottenham scout Bryan King told Football Insider earlier this week that Chelsea are pushing for defender Josh Acheampong to sign a new contract at the start of 2027.
The starlet has impressed in Xabi Alonso’s system of late, with his versatility across the backline catching the eye.
King believes that a new deal is likely to be in the offing for Acheampong in the coming months, to help fend off the growing interest in him from elsewhere.
King outlined that the Cobham graduate is already on the radar of several Premier League clubs, with his stock rising with every passing game of late.