Chelsea are edging ever closer to appointing Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, with the Strasbourg manager already flying into London to hold final talks over the vacant role at Stamford Bridge.
Sources close to the situation indicate that negotiations have progressed smoothly, with both parties confident an agreement can be reached swiftly. Rosenior’s visit is viewed as a decisive step towards formalising the move.
Rosenior, 41, has emerged as the standout candidate to succeed Enzo Maresca, who left the club following internal disagreements with senior figures over sporting direction and long-term strategy.
Chelsea’s hierarchy are believed to admire Rosenior’s tactical flexibility, emphasis on youth development, and his familiarity with the BlueCo multi-club model, which has become central to the club’s future planning.
Talks are understood to be at an advanced stage, with legal and contractual formalities expected to be completed imminently, barring any last-minute complications.
Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane hinted that an official announcement could arrive early this week, suggesting clarity is finally approaching regarding the club’s next permanent appointment.
“There’s a chance the new manager will be in on Monday, that’s what I was told originally,” McFarlane said after Chelsea’s weekend draw. “As far as I know, the new manager will be in shortly and I’ll lead the team until he’s in.”
Transition underway across BlueCo clubs
Rosenior took charge of Strasbourg’s 1-1 draw away at Nice on Saturday before immediately travelling to London, underlining the rapid pace at which events have unfolded.
He was pictured at Strasbourg airport alongside sporting director David Weir, reinforcing the internal nature of the move within the BlueCo ownership structure, which controls both Chelsea and Strasbourg.
The shared ownership has allowed discussions to progress efficiently, with cooperation between both clubs aimed at ensuring minimal disruption on either side.
With Rosenior widely expected to depart, Strasbourg have already initiated the process of identifying a suitable replacement ahead of the second half of the season.
Sporting director David Weir and club president Marc Keller are overseeing the search, with several experienced names under consideration.
Former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is among those reported to have held preliminary talks, though no final decision has yet been reached.
The uncertainty has sparked unease among sections of Strasbourg’s fanbase, who fear instability, but no resistance is anticipated from the Chelsea side as plans move forward.
McFarlane steadies Chelsea amid uncertainty
McFarlane, the club’s under-21s coach, stepped in following Maresca’s exit and guided the senior side through a challenging period of transition.
He oversaw a resilient 1-1 draw away at Manchester City on Sunday, a result that earned praise for the team’s organisation and fighting spirit.
Enzo Fernandez struck a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser after Chelsea had fallen behind to Tijjani Reijnders’ first-half effort.
Reflecting on his brief spell in charge, McFarlane said: “When I first took the job, I was told I would take the Manchester City game. So that was three days with the group.”
He added: “We’ve had everything against us, but this group has shown that when their backs are against the wall, they’ve got the talent and character to be successful. I’m really, really proud of the whole group.”
Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, three points adrift of the top four, despite having lifted the Club World Cup just six months ago.
The Blues face Fulham on Wednesday, followed by an FA Cup clash against Charlton, as preparations continue for a crucial run of fixtures under incoming leadership.
All signs now point towards Rosenior being tasked with guiding Chelsea through the next phase of their rebuild, with expectations high that a new era at Stamford Bridge is about to begin.