Chelsea and Strasbourg are allowed to sell players to each other despite being in the same multi-club ownership portfolio. In June 2023, the Ligue 1 club was bought by BlueCo, a consortium headed by American businessman Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali for 65m. There are significant connections between Chelsea and Strasbourg, who are managed by Englishman Liam Rosenior, with goalkeeper Mike Penders, Kendry Paez and Mamadou Sarr all on loan from Stamford Bridge.
Posted up against a wall of the air-conditioned gym at Peach Jam in mid-July, Tulane coach Ron Hunter prepared to greet an approaching SEC colleague, expecting a handshake and pleasantries. But his powerhouse peer had other intentions for the interaction with Hunter, who has developed multiple players who have transferred to elite programs -- including former Duke star Sion James -- in recent years. "He came over to me and he said, 'Ron, you're doing a hell of a job ... getting kids ready for our level,'" Hunter told ESPN at the basketball camp in North Augusta, South Carolina. "And I didn't know whether to be mad or to say thank you."
What happened was extremely serious and extremely violent, something I've never encountered before. We had to take a decision because what happened went way beyond what is acceptable in a football club, as it would be in any organisation. I wasn't in the dressing room but the staff told me it was incredible, violent, aggressive and went beyond any limits.
Eddie Howe's diplomatic communication style and keen insight into player dynamics uniquely equip him to handle sensitive situations like the one with Alexander Isak. Despite this, he acknowledges losing control over the striker's situation as Isak pushes for a transfer to Liverpool, going so far as to train alone and face fines for missing team activities.