Liam Rosenior has arrived in London to hold talks with Chelsea over the managerial vacancy, following the departure of Enzo Maresca. The 41-year-old Strasbourg manager is expected to meet with the west London club on Monday, with discussions likely to result in his appointment.
Rosenior quickly became the favourite for the role after Maresca's acrimonious exit. However, BlueCo, the investment vehicle that owns both Chelsea and Strasbourg, had to navigate sensitivities between the two clubs. Talks were delayed until after Strasbourg's Ligue 1 match against Nice on Saturday.
Rosenior was accompanied by Strasbourg's president, Marc Keller, and sporting director, David Weir. Chelsea's board and sporting directors are strong admirers of Rosenior. It remains unclear if he will be installed in time for Chelsea's trip to Fulham on Wednesday; Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane took interim charge for Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Rosenior was on a shortlist that included Porto's Francesco Farioli and Flamengo's Filipe Luís, who led Flamengo to victory over Chelsea at last summer's Club World Cup. BlueCo are now seeking a quality replacement for Rosenior at Strasbourg, with Filipe Coelho and Jean-Marc Kuentz expected to take interim charge. Former Wolves manager Gary O'Neil is a contender for the permanent role, while Minnesota United's Eric Ramsay has also been monitored.
