CHELSEA are in talks to appoint former Liverpool director of scouting and recruitment Dave Fallows in a senior sporting leadership role.
Fallows, 65, was a figure at the head of the signings of Liverpool stalwarts such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and goalkeeper Alisson in his time at Anfield.
The club’s time under his watch saw them win the Champions League and Premier League, while investing heavily in the future of the club, as well as established stars to lead them to European glory.
After leaving Liverpool in October 2024, he now looks set to join the Blues and become a prominent figure in terms of scouting, player pathways and football development.
Currently in discussions with the Chelsea hierarchy over joining, he would join forces with sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.
He would also link up with co-directors of recruitment and talent Joe Shields and Sam Jewell.
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Similar to Shields, Fallows also spent time at Manchester City, where he was said to be key in terms of helping build the club’s international scouting infrastructure.
The 65-year-old’s finest piece of work was perhaps Liverpool’s acquisition of Mohamed Salah from Roma.
After starring for the Italian side, he returned to England for £34m in 2017, despite NOT initially being desired by Liverpool manager at the time, Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp’s first preference was to sign German international Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen, who now finds himself a decent attacking midfielder for Borussia Dortmund, but certainly no Mo Salah.
Fallows was also instrumental in the signing of one of Merseyside’s newest revelations, Ryan Gravenberch.
In 2023, after missing out on signing Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in favour of joining Chelsea, Liverpool sent chief scout Barry Hunter and Fallows on a ‘fact-finding mission in Munich’.
Whatever they found on Gravenberch, who was playing under Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich at the time, must’ve been good, because the Reds signed him on the summer deadline day of 2023 for £34m.
Meanwhile, Chelsea returned from international duty in fine form as they swept aside Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the City Ground.
Goals from Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto, and Reece James sent the Blues up to sixth in the Premier League table.
The result was the final nail in the coffin for Forest boss Ange Postecoglou as he was sacked minutes after the final whistle.
The Aussie’s spell in charge in the East Midlands lasted just 39 days – the second shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.
It was not a perfect afternoon for the Blues as defender Malo Gusto was sent off in the closing stages of the game.
Manager Enzo Maresca was fuming at the decision as he called it a “useless” foul to make.
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