Liam Rosenior has an advantage over most managers who make their way to Chelsea, having experienced the ownership at Strasbourg.
The January transfer window looks like it will a quiet one for Chelsea and Liam Rosenior, despite him asking for specific targets to be signed.
A senior central defender and a goalkeeper could be the two positions Chelsea need to strengthen in the most, with inconsistencies and an injury to Levi Colwill playing their part.
But as we have become accustomed to, you don’t always get what you want at Stamford Bridge.
With the BlueCo model, players are often swapped between Strasbourg and Chelsea, which looks the case with Emanuel Emegha joining in the summer.
However, he might not be the only player.
Chelsea’s stance on January transfers under Liam Rosenior is clear 🗣️
What signings do you want to see?
Chelsea's January transfer window stance
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
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Chelsea already have summer plans for Mike Penders
Chelsea secured the signature of Mike Penders, one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Europe, for a fee of approximately £17 million from KRC Genk.
As is the case with most young players signed by Chelsea, he is currently spending the 2025/26 season on loan at RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
Penders has established himself as the undisputed number one for Strasbourg this season, playing under current Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior before his move to Stamford Bridge.
And The Daily Mail claims that Rosenior adores the goalkeeper, and there are even plans to potentially have Robert Sanchez and Penders battle it out in the summer at Chelsea.
Is Mike Penders the ultimate proof that the Strasbourg partnership actually works?👀
Mike Penders and Robert Sanchez at Chelsea
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
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Mike Penders and Robert Sanchez compared
From just looking at the comparison between the two players, it’s easy to see that Mike Penders is coming out on top as things stand. Albeit he is in an easier league.
The touches outside the box is an interesting one, showing that he knows how to confidently play the Liam Rosenior way of holding possession and helping create passages of play.
This ties in with the passing accuracy, which is something that the Spaniard has been caught out by in the past. Sanchez’s two huge errors against Brighton back in 2024 stand out massively.
Stats (2025-26 season) Robert Sanchez (Chelsea) Mike Penders (Strasbourg)
Appearances 19 16
Clean Sheets 8 6
Save Percentage 70.3% 79.8%
Goals Prevented (PSxG-GA) +2.68 +1.93
Pass Accuracy 65.5% 85.1%
Errors Leading to Goal 5 1
Crosses Claimed % 12.5% 8.1%
Touches Outside Box (per 90) 18.1 39.4
Red Cards 1 0
Height 1.97m (6’5″) 2.00m (6’7″)
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