Chelsea Football Club are on the verge of appointing Liam Rosenior as their new manager after the Strasbourg coach travelled to London for decisive talks.
Talks Scheduled After Ligue 1 Commitment
The 41-year-old Englishman, who is currently in charge of French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, boarded a flight from France on Sunday. He is due to meet with the Chelsea hierarchy on Monday, with expectations high that he will agree to take the Stamford Bridge hotseat.
Rosenior emerged as the leading candidate following the abrupt departure of Enzo Maresca earlier this week. However, a key complication lay in the shared ownership of both clubs by the investment group BlueCo. The group's leaders insisted on waiting until after Strasbourg's Ligue 1 fixture against Nice on Saturday before engaging in talks, aiming to be respectful to the French club's immediate needs.
Rosenior was accompanied on his journey by Strasbourg president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir. Chelsea's board and sporting directors are known to be significant admirers of the former Hull City manager's approach.
Race Against Time for Fulham Derby
A pressing question is whether the appointment can be finalised in time for Chelsea's next Premier League fixture. The Blues face a short trip to local rivals Fulham on Wednesday evening. For Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City, Chelsea's Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane took interim charge.
Rosenior was placed on a concise shortlist after Maresca's exit. Other names considered included Porto's Francesco Farioli and Flamengo's Filipe Luís. Luís, a former Chelsea player, notably managed Flamengo to a victory over the Blues in last summer's Club World Cup.
Strasbourg Begin Search for Successor
Attention now turns to who will replace Rosenior at the helm of Strasbourg. Filipe Coelho and Jean-Marc Kuentz are expected to take temporary control of the first team while a permanent solution is sought.
It is understood that former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil is a contender for the full-time role. The club has also been monitoring the situation of Eric Ramsay, currently at MLS side Minnesota United.
This potential move underscores the growing interconnectedness within multi-club ownership models, with BlueCo navigating a delicate balance to secure what they believe is the right candidate for their flagship Premier League asset.
