Chelsea place technical director Christopher Vivell on gardening leave

Chelsea have placed Christopher Vivell on gardening leave seven months after hiring the German as their technical director.

Vivell was in charge of football “globally” but is set to leave Stamford Bridge as Chelsea continue to overhaul their recruitment structure. The club’s ownership has decided to hand over much of the control to the co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

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Chelsea have a packed recruitment team, having also brought in Joe Shields and Kyle Macaulay since the start of last season. Vivell joined from RB Leipzig but further appointments raised questions over his role.

Winstanley has risen to prominence since joining from Brighton and Stewart has also been influential since being poached from Monaco in February. The duo are close and led Chelsea’s search for a new manager following the sacking of Graham Potter in April. Mauricio Pochettino was hired as head coach following a lengthy process and is working with Stewart and Winstanley on the club’s transfer business this summer.

Chelsea are on their pre-season tour of the USA and face Brighton & Hove Albion in a friendly on Saturday. Chelsea are trying to sign Moisés Caicedo but had a £70m bid for the Brighton midfielder rejected earlier this week.