Chelsea appear ready to press reset on their football identity again. But this time, it looks like they might finally be doing it right. Softfootball understands the club is closing in on appointing Dave Fallows, the former Liverpool director of scouting and recruitment, to a senior leadership role at Stamford Bridge. It's a move that could redefine how the Blues approach transfers, scouting, and squad planning. It will also help in keeping momentum going following their 3-nil victory over Nottingham Forest.
Fallows, who quietly left Liverpool in October 2024, has been out of the spotlight for a year. But during his 12-year spell at Anfield, he helped construct one of the most successful teams in modern English football. Working alongside Michael Edwards, Julian Ward, and Barry Hunter, Fallows was instrumental in shaping a recruitment system that valued precision and sustainability. His data-informed approach helped deliver world-class talents like Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Alisson Becker, and Andy Robertson, all cornerstones of Liverpool's Champions League and Premier League triumphs.
Now, Behdad Eghbali and the BlueCo hierarchy are hoping Fallows can bring that same structural clarity to Chelsea's often-chaotic setup. He is expected to operate alongside Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields, and Sam Jewell, forming what insiders describe as a "collaborative and vertically aligned" recruitment department.