Calum MacFarlane will take charge of Chelsea for the second and final time when they visit west London rivals Fulham on Wednesday evening.
The Blues’ Under-21s coach guided his side to a 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday, having stepped in to take charge following the departure of head coach Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.
The FIFA Club World Cup champions have since named Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, with the Englishman leaving his role with sister club Strasbourg, but the 41-year-old will not take charge until after their trip to Craven Cottage on Wednesday.
Rosenior’s first game in charge of the Blues will be a trip to south London to face Championship side Charlton Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup.
Ahead of that trip to The Valley, it has emerged that Rosenior is keen to bring one of his Strasbourg players with him to Stamford Bridge.
As reported by Spanish outlet Fichajes, via CaughtOffside, Rosenior wants to sign midfielder Valentin Barco and be reunited with the Argentine in west London.
Barco could follow Rosenior to Chelsea (Photo: Sipa US/Alamy)
Barco, 21, joined French side Strasbourg from Brighton and Hove Albion on loan at the start of 2025, before making the switch permanent over the summer.
The Argentine established himself as an important player for Rosenior’s side, making 38 appearances for the club during the Englishman’s tenure.
Barco’s versatility proved useful for Rosenior in Strasbourg, with the Argentinian capable of playing in a variety of roles including as a central midfielder, winger, or wing-back.
During his spell in England with the Seagulls, Barco made just seven appearances for the south coast club, having signed from Boca Juniors in January 2024.
He spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Spanish side Sevilla, making nine appearances for the Andalusian outfit.