Boehly spent £550m on biggest contract ever days before Pochettino demand
Todd Boehly has splashed out on the most lucrative deal in baseball history to take Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers but could be forced to open his chequebook again as Mauricio Pochettino demanded reinforcements at Stamford Bridge.
The free-spending American tycoon fought off competition from several MLB clubs to secure the two-way superstar's services for the next ten years in a blockbuster deal. The Japanese sensation, who has been compared to icon Babe Ruth as a result of his showing for the Los Angeles Angels, has put pen to paper on a $700m contract.
Incredibly, this $70m-a-year agreement has not only smashed baseball records but is also the biggest of its kind in sporting history, outstripping the earnings of previous best-paid star Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese soccer legend earns $214.5 million a year in Saudi Arabia, while Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also has a contract to make $450 million over ten years.
Despite breaking the bank for the 29-year-old's signature, Chelsea chairman Boehly is under pressure to now turn his attentions back to affairs in West London, however. Blues head coach Pochettino bluntly asserted the need for new additions after his team's limp 2-0 defeat away at Everton.
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This comes in the wake of the current chairman having already splurged in excess of £1bn on some 29 fresh signings since taking over at Stamford Bridge in May 2022. In spite of his investment during the past 18 months, success on the pitch has evaded Chelsea during that time.
Demanding further spending in light of the costly defeat at Goodison Park, the Argentine boss called for more transfer activity when the window re-opens in January. He acknowledged that he expected further business in the new year, saying: "We need to do something, some movement.
That is something to analyse with the sporting director and say what can we do to change the dynamic, Pochettino admitted as he pointed out that the team remains a major work in progress. "Then there’s a massive assessment from the beginning of the season, from day one until today.
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Shohei Ohtani's move to the Los Angeles Dodgers has been bankrolled by Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly (Getty)He added: "When the transfer window opens, we will see what we can do. It’s a problem we need to check. We need to analyse the reality. We need to talk and to try to improve in the next transfer market."
The loss on Merseyside left Chelsea sat in 12th place in the Premier League table in spite of their extraordinary outlay on signings in recent times. This is the same position they occupied at the end of last term and they have won just six times in their last 28 top flight outings.
Summer marquee reinforcements Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia have been consigned to the sidelines during their first few months at the Bridge and are yet to make a competitive appearance. In addition, fellow recent acquisitions Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson are yet to hit consistent form.
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