Chelsea is increasingly close to finalizing Liam Rosenior as its new manager, after the 41-year-old coach arrived in London this Sunday, according to ESPN.

Rosenior managed Strasbourg's match that ended in a 0-0 draw against Nice on Saturday and, after the game, stated he had not yet spoken with Chelsea about the possible hiring. Those conversations are expected to accelerate, as Rosenior is the club's preferred candidate.

Strasbourg's ownership by the same group (BlueCo completed Chelsea's acquisition in 2022) will facilitate the process. Rosenior traveled to London with Strasbourg president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir.

A deal has not yet been finalized, but there is growing expectation that the situation will progress quickly and that a formal announcement will be made in the coming days, perhaps before Wednesday's match against Fulham.

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Chelsea terminated Enzo Maresca's contract on Thursday, and the Under-21 team coach, Calum McFarlane, was designated to manage his first match with the first team against Manchester City.

Sunday's match at Etihad Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw, with Enzo Fernandez's goal in the 94th minute equalizing Tijjani Reijnders' opening goal in the first half.

After the match, McFarlane was asked about the schedule for the coming days.

"We will train tomorrow," he said. "Unless I'm told otherwise tonight, I will lead the session. Obviously, my only priority has been this match, the challenge it represents. But until I'm told otherwise, I will manage the team, so for now, I will manage the team tomorrow."

"When I accepted the position, I was told I would manage the match against Manchester City, so I had three days with the group. There is a possibility the new manager could arrive Monday, that's what I was originally told," he added.

"Obviously, now it's Sunday, and we have focused exclusively on the match. So I'm sure I will get more information once this press conference ends, but as far as I know, the new manager will arrive soon and I will manage the team until he arrives."

McFarlane also praised Chelsea's reaction to turbulent days that included the loss of defender Wesley Fofana to a virus and that of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to a muscle problem.

"I think the most impressive are probably the players," he stated. "To be losing 1-0 at the Etihad, with an interim manager, players getting sick on the day of the match, the day before, with all the changes, and for them to be able to regroup, assimilate the information and execute it, says a lot about the personality of the players we have at this club."

"Young players in those moments could break down, but I think they were exceptional."

Former AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton manager Gary O'Neill is one of three candidates to replace Rosenior at Strasbourg, according to ESPN.

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