Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich explored purchasing Ligue 1 side FC Nantes as a potential feeder club for the Premier League side. The interest was revealed by former Chelsea goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon, who was consulted by Abramovich on the matter.

Lollichon, who served at Chelsea for 15 years until 2022, said Abramovich called him to his office at the club's Cobham training ground to discuss the French club. "He said to me: 'Tell me about FC Nantes. What's the club like?'" Lollichon recalled. Abramovich's idea was to acquire Nantes to develop talent for Chelsea, but he ultimately concluded the club was too large for the specific feeder role he had in mind. Lollichon, who joined Nantes three years ago, also remembered Abramovich's logistical assurance about moving players, stating: "Don't worry, we'll send planes to get them."

Lollichon's Connection to Nantes

Christophe Lollichon's move to FC Nantes three years ago provided the connection for Abramovich's inquiry. The long-serving coach had an intimate knowledge of the club's structure and potential, having observed French football closely during his tenure at Chelsea. His insights were sought as Abramovich considered strategic acquisitions to bolster Chelsea's squad pipeline, a pipeline now detailed in the club's current squad data.

Nantes Sale Progress

FC Nantes, now in Ligue 2 after relegation in 2023, is in the process of being sold to a consortium led by former football agent Paulo Tavares. An agreement in principle was reached last month. Nantes host Dunkerque this Saturday as the sale process continues.

The revelation about Abramovich's past interest emerges as Chelsea, under current ownership, focus on their Premier League campaign. The team's recent form has been strong, with the 5-1 victory over Bournemouth last week contributing to a run where they have scored 10 goals in their last three league matches. This offensive output is reflected in the team's overall stats, which show an average of 2.5 goals per game this season. Currently sixth in the standings with 10 points from six games, their next challenge is an away trip to face fifth-placed Everton on Saturday, October 17, a key fixture in their fixtures list.

This story first appeared at Yahoo Sports