Potential Hull City boss Leonid Slutsky and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich are close friends – meaning Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic may be left out.
Leonid Slutsky looks to be coming to Hull
It appears that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has made it his personal mission to find close friend Leonid Slutsky a job in England this summer.
“Today, his project in Russian football is me,” the 46-year-old Slutsky said in quotes reported by the BBC. And it appears that Abramovich’s influence may have swayed Hull City towards appointing the highly-rated tactician.
Not that he should have needed the billionaire oligarch on his side. Regularly leading CSKA Moscow into the Champions League and winning three Russian league titles in seven seasons at the capital club, Slutsky is one of the most underrated coaches on the continent.
Yet, it appears that having friends in high places opens a few doors.
According to The Standard, the former Russia coach, who led the nation to Euro 2016 against all the odds after their disastrous start to qualifying under Fabio Capello, is confident that he can lure a number of Chelsea players to the KCom next season on loan deals.
And it would be no surprise if Charly Musonda was at the top of his list. The Belgian has not played a minute of senior football for Chelsea but, during a loan spell at Real Betis in 2015/16, enhanced his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting youngsters.
Chelsea’s Charly Musonda is a special talent
Blessed with dazzlingly quick feet and a sharp mind to boot, reports suggested the 20-year-old was even on the verge of the senior Belgium squad. And with Hull’s Kamil Grosicki attracting attention from the Premier League, signing Musonda may be the perfect counter-weight.
Therefore, Celtic have a right to be concerned. The Daily Mail reported recently that manager Brendan Rodgers had made Musonda one of his top summer targets with doubts surrounding the future of Patrick Roberts.
Celtic manager Brendon Rodgers
Rodgers’ renowned ability to help young talents unleash their potential certainly suggested that Parkhead was an ideal destination for a player in need of a first-team chance in England.
Yet, it is not what you know but who you know. As Hull may be about to find out.
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