Chelsea Manager Liam Rosenior Addresses Player Situations and Transfer Strategies
Chelsea's new manager, Liam Rosenior, has committed to engaging in discussions with Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, both of whom are currently training separately from the main squad as part of the so-called 'bomb squad.'
The 41-year-old Englishman, who succeeded Enzo Maresca last week, is navigating a comprehensive list of responsibilities after taking over mid-season from Strasbourg, a club that shares ownership with Chelsea.
A key focus for Rosenior is to communicate with Sterling and Disasi, who were signed during the 2023-24 season for £47.5 million and £38.5 million, respectively. Currently, they are training at different times and locations from the main team, and both players remain on the transfer list after rejecting potential loan opportunities over the summer.
When asked about the two players, Rosenior stated, "I will have conversations with them. We’re in January, as you know. Raheem has had an outstanding career, and I have immense respect for him. Axel is someone I have admired as a player for a long time. Honestly, I need to speak with them and the club. I’m being genuinely honest; I have to work through a list of priorities, which I will address in the next few days."
Sterling has attracted interest from Napoli, while Roma and Lyon have shown interest in Disasi. However, Chelsea is currently limited to a maximum of six players out on overseas loans, according to FIFA regulations, meaning they would need to cancel an existing loan for either player to facilitate a temporary move.
Typically active in transfer windows, Chelsea has seen a slow start to January following the managerial change. Insiders indicate that the club's strategy will largely remain consistent, although Rosenior's input will now be included in discussions, particularly after Maresca's unexpected departure due to internal conflicts.
Regarding potential signings, Rosenior remarked, "The first conversation I had with the club's hierarchy was about assessing the most important players, those who are currently here. You often find pleasant surprises when you give people a chance. I had some really positive surprises in the game against Charlton. Yes, we’re in January, and we want the club to succeed in the short term. However, sometimes the solutions are within the club rather than externally. I will make a decision on that later in the week after I’ve seen everyone."
Looking ahead, Chelsea is expected to pursue more significant signings in the summer when their preferred targets are likely to be available. A high-quality attacker is among the top priorities, as evidenced by Chelsea's brief inquiries about Antoine Semenyo before his transfer to Manchester City. The club also considered a move for Dean Huijsen before he joined Real Madrid and is looking to strengthen their center-back position.
Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet is one of the players admired by the club, along with Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, while other unnamed options are also being evaluated. Chelsea has been linked to St Etienne striker Djylian N'Guessan, although he is also a target for sister club Strasbourg in France.
Additionally, the club has shown interest in Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, who has less than 18 months remaining on his contract at Old Trafford. Midfield options may also be considered if Romeo Lavia continues to face injury challenges. Backup goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen is currently exploring his options and would need to be replaced if he departs.
Academy graduate Tyrique George has struggled to secure a place in recent matchday squads and is available for sale again after a £22 million move to Fulham fell through on deadline day. The option for him to leave on loan is also under consideration.
The west London club remains under significant restrictions from UEFA this January to maintain a "positive transfer balance," requiring them to offset any incoming deals with outgoing transfers. However, these restrictions are set to lift next season, coinciding with the Premier League's introduction of new Squad Cost Control ratio rules, which are less stringent than the current Profit and Sustainability regulations.
Chelsea has already identified several players for next season, including £40 million Sporting winger Geovany Quenda, Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha, Kairat forward Dastan Satapayev, and Corinthians left-back Denner Evangelista. The Blues recently finalized a deal to sign defender Deinner Ordonez from Independiente del Valle, set to join in January 2028.
Players currently on loan, such as Aaron Anselmino at Borussia Dortmund and the Strasbourg trio of Mike Penders, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez, are still highly regarded, with the latter three having previously played under Rosenior in France.