Chelsea have reportedly emerged as the lead contenders to sign a Real Madrid star, with BlueCo also prepared to pay a record-breaking fee to seal his signature.
Liam Rosenior set for Chelsea managerial debut against Charlton
Liam Rosenior will take charge of his first game as Chelsea head coach when the Blues travel to Championship side Charlton Athletic for tonight's FA Cup third round clash.
The 41-year-old has had just two training sessions to prepare his new squad following his six-and-a-half-year appointment from Strasbourg earlier this week.
RC Strasbourg coach Liam Rosenior during the match
Rosenior insisted he will be making all the decisions at Stamford Bridge despite suggestions that interference from club hierarchy contributed to Enzo Maresca's departure on New Year's Day.
The Englishman emphasised during his press conference that people would see through him immediately if he was not his own man, stressing that there is no way to be successful as a manager without making decisions for yourself.
Chelsea currently sit eighth in the Premier League table on 31 points following their devastating 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night.
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The west Londoners have held discussions with intermediaries.
Marc Cucurella was sent off in the 22nd minute for denying Harry Wilson an obvious goalscoring opportunity, representing the seventh red card Chelsea have collected this season and the third time they have been reduced to 10 men in the first half of a league match.
Rosenior holds no illusions about the challenge awaiting him.
Charlton manager Nathan Jones has made his intentions clear that his Championship side are not just here to have a good time but genuinely want to beat Chelsea, creating what Rosenior views as an underrated test for his managerial debut.
Off the field, BlueCo are being linked with a host of high-profile stars with the January window now in full swing.
In the last week, surprise reports have touted Chelsea as suitors for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jude Bellingham, Fermin Lopez and Bradley Barcola, with Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Jr now added to the list.
vinicius-jr-real-madrid
The 'world-class' Brazil international, as dubbed by former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, has been a key player for Los Blancos and only just missed out on the 2024 Ballon d'Or to Man City's Rodri.
Vinicius has 111 goals and 91 assists to his name since making his debut for Real in the Madrid derby back in 2018 — becoming the first player born in the 2000s to play a competitive game for them.
Chelsea in pole position to sign Real Madrid superstar Vinicus Jr
However, while he is one of their most crucial stars, Vinicius' contract is also still due to expire next year as talks remain ongoing over a new contract.
These negotiations have still failed to reach a conclusion, and while the 25-year-old remains poised to leave as a free agent in 2027, big clubs are offering him an alternative landing spot.
One of them is Chelsea, according to a fresh report from Spain.
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior reacts
This report claims that Chelsea have 'overtaken everyone else' in the race for Vinicius, including the likes of Arsenal, PSG and multiple Saudi sides, with BlueCo also prepared to pay around £130 million for the winger.
While Rosenior's side have a history of splashing over £100m on the right players, namely Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo, Vinicius' wages pose a real issue.
Chelsea have a very balanced and carefully orchestrated wage structure, and the Real star's £348,000-per-week take-home would absolutely shatter it.
That being said, a player of his outstanding quality, not to mention commercial appeal, could make his lucrative pay packet worth the punt.
Vinicius Jr. celebrates for Real Madrid
Vinicius Jr. celebrates for Real Madrid
This campaign, Vinicius has slightly tailed off after his exceptional start to 2025/2026, where he bagged five goals and four assists in his opening eight La Liga matches under Xabi Alonso.
The South American is now without a goal in his last 11 top flight matches, but the forward is poised to play a huge role when Real play Barcelona in the El Clásico Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday.
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Chelsea are set to join a number of big clubs in the race.