Chelsea eyeing Lyon’s Bompastor as Hayes replacement – sources

Chelsea have identified Lyon's Sonia Bompastor as the preferred candidate to replace outgoing Emma Hayes, sources have told ESPN.

Bompastor is under contract with the French champions until 2025, so Chelsea would have to pay a significant fee to release her from her contract if terms are agreed.

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But she is top of Chelsea's wanted list as they consider life after Hayes, who will leave his post at the helm of the club at the end of the season to take up the post of head coach. United States women's national team.

Hayes leaves big shoes to fill at Chelsea. She has transformed the team, leading them to six Women's Super League titles since taking charge in 2012, while also winning five FA Cups.

Bompastor won 156 caps for France and the 2011 and 2012 Champions League titles as a player at Lyon. She joined the team's technical staff in 2013 and took charge of the first team in 2021 after the departure of Jean-Luc Vasseur.

In the 2021-22 campaign, she led Lyon to the league title and the Champions League, then backed that up by taking Lyon to their second championship in as many seasons last season.

But securing the services of Bompastor will not be easy for Chelsea. She is still under contract for another 16 months, while Lyon was taken over earlier this month by American businesswoman Michele Kang who has already pledged to help Lyon become dominant in Europe again.