Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has expressed his complete relief at working within the club's modern football structure, which liberates him from the traditional manager's burden of personally handling transfer negotiations.
A Collaborative Approach to Recruitment
The Blues have established a sophisticated five-strong sporting director team, led by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, with Joe Shields, Sam Jewell, and Dave Fallows also playing key roles. This collaborative model represents a significant departure from old-school approaches where managers would personally sell and sign players through countless phone calls.
'That's the beauty of being a head coach within a structure: I'm not an old-school manager that's got out the phone and is making calls,' Rosenior explained ahead of Saturday's Premier League match against West Ham. 'I've got the best people, I think, in world football working on those things.'
Focus on Coaching Rather Than Negotiations
Rosenior emphasised that this system allows him to concentrate entirely on team performance and training sessions, rather than being confined to his office throughout transfer windows. 'I probably see the last two per cent of the work they do, which allows me to focus on what I need to focus on: the team and the performance,' he stated.
When asked whether he prefers this modern approach, having previously worked within the BlueCo structure at Strasbourg, Rosenior was unequivocal: 'One hundred per cent. I don't want to be sat in an office all day. I want to be on the training pitch.'
Ongoing Transfer Activity
Despite Rosenior's hands-off approach, Chelsea remain actively engaged in transfer business as Monday's 7pm deadline approaches. The club continues negotiations with Rennes for 20-year-old central defender Jeremy Jacquet, following two weeks of the Ligue 1 side resisting Chelsea's advances.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old winger Tyrique George appears likely to depart Stamford Bridge, with Everton showing particular interest following Jack Grealish's injury. However, sources indicate multiple Premier League clubs are monitoring the situation, alongside enquiries from Spanish and Italian teams.
Team News and Injury Updates
In positive news for Chelsea supporters, Cole Palmer has been declared fit enough to start against West Ham after assisting both of Joao Pedro's goals in the Champions League victory over Napoli. Additionally, defender Levi Colwill has progressed his rehabilitation from an ACL injury, now working outdoors on the grass at Cobham, though the club remains cautious about his return timeline.
Romeo Lavia's recovery continues to be managed carefully, with Rosenior refusing to place a timeframe on the midfielder's return. 'He's looking really, really good but we need to make sure every single thing is marked off in terms of his rehab,' the head coach explained. 'He's an incredible talent. I want to make sure when he's back, he's back for good.'
In a lighter moment, Rosenior addressed whether Chelsea might adopt the long throw-in tactics that have become increasingly popular in the Premier League this season. 'I haven't seen any of our players be able to throw it more than 10 yards so far,' he joked, though Marc Cucurella was reportedly spotted practising throws at Cobham on Friday afternoon.
