According to The Athletic and The Guardian, Liam Rosenior is on the verge of becoming Chelsea’s new head coach. The 41-year-old manager arrived in London on Sunday, January 4, 2026, accompanied by Strasbourg president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir, to finalize negotiations. While an agreement is expected to be reached on Monday, the official announcement will reportedly be delayed until Strasbourg—also owned by the BlueCo consortium—secures a suitable replacement.

Rosenior’s rapid rise to the top of Chelsea’s shortlist is attributed to his strong performance at Strasbourg, where he led the French side to UEFA Conference League qualification in his first full season. His familiarity with Chelsea’s hierarchy, including joint sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, has made him the preferred candidate to succeed Enzo Maresca. While Gary O’Neil has been linked as a potential successor for the vacant role at Strasbourg, Chelsea is being "sensitive" to the needs of their sister club before pulling the trigger on the appointment.

Amidst the managerial transition, Chelsea U21 coach Calum McFarlane served as interim manager for Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City. McFarlane confirmed he will continue leading first-team training on Monday until a formal appointment is made. If Rosenior is officially installed by Tuesday, he could be in the dugout for Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League clash against Fulham on Wednesday. The move represents a significant gamble on a young, progressive coach who fits BlueCo’s collaborative "head coach" model rather than the traditional, autonomous managerial role.