Liam Rosenior will have some difficult decisions to make after his recent arrival as Chelsea head coach.placeholder image
Liam Rosenior will have some difficult decisions to make after his recent arrival as Chelsea head coach. | AFP via Getty Images
Liam Rosenior arrived as Chelsea head coach last week and will be looking to put his stamp on the club
Liam Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca in the Chelsea managerial dugout last week and faces the biggest test of his Blues reign thus far when his side host Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge.
Off the pitch, the Blues head coach has some important squad decisions to make, amidst the circumstances of the January transfer window. He will have the opportunity to assess his squad and bring in the reinforcements he deems necessary this month, while offering an exit to players he does not feel will fit into his system at Stamford Bridge.
Two Chelsea stars have hit headlines following claims by Rosenior on Tuesday, in what could be a blow to their Premier League rivals.
Rosenior to have ‘conversations’ with exiled Sterling and Disasi this month
Rosenior has suggested that there is a potential way back for Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi at Chelsea, telling reporters he will have “conversations” with the pair who were exiled under Maresca.
Reported by Sky Sports News, Rosenior said: “I will have conversations with them. We're in January, as you know. Raheem's had an outstanding career. I've got huge respect for him. Axel is someone I've really, really liked as a player for a long time.
“Honestly, I have to have a conversation with them. I have to have a conversation with the club. I'm being genuinely honest. I have got to work through a list of priorities. I will do in the next few days.”
Sterling has not played for Chelsea since May 2025, having not featured once in a competitive match under Maresca, and departed on loan for Arsenal last season. Disasi, meanwhile, last featured for the Blues first team in January 2025 but has played for the Chelsea Under-21 side this term.
Rosenior update will come as a blow to Fulham and West Ham
This news will come as a blow to Chelsea’s London rivals Fulham and West Ham United, both of whom were hoping to secure one of Chelsea’s exiled stars this January.
Sterling has been linked with Fulham over the past couple of transfer windows and was ‘leaning towards’ a move to the Cottagers this month according to the Standard, after West Ham’s attempt at a loan move was rejected. The 31-year-old has been training alone this season and reports continued that both Sterling and Chelsea were only willing to sanction a permanent deal or loan with unconditional obligation to buy. The situation may, however, have changed with Rosenior’s arrival.
Amidst prospective cross-London moves for both stars, Rosenior’s words about his plans to speak to both players have thrown a spanner in the works for Fulham and West Ham respectively. Both Sterling and Disasi have looked a long way from the Chelsea first team in recent months but it remains to be seen whether they will be given a clean slate and a fresh chance to perform under Rosenior.
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