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Following news that Chelsea new co-owner Todd Boehly wants to follow the example of the City Football Group and Red Bull in establishing a multi-club network, it has emerged that that Arsenal have similar ambitions.
The Kroenke family, who also own the current NFL champions The Los Angeles Rams, MLS side Colorado Rapids, Denver Nuggets in the NBA, and Colorado Rapids in the NHL have explored the possibilities of acquiring clubs in Belgium, Brazil and Portugal.
The logic that that they would serve as feeder clubs of Arsenal, and also provide places to send young talent on loan to help them develop more quickly, whilst there would be a cross-fertilisation of coaches and analysts.
It would also have commercial advantages in helping spread the Arsenal brand, whilst the smaller clubs would get a level of financial investment and support they would not otherwise have enjoyed.
Plans are reported still to be at an early stage.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.