Liam Rosenior is in ‘detailed’ talks with Chelsea’s higher-ups surrounding their summer transfer plans – and not one player has communicated to their head coach that he wants to leave.
Enzo Fernandez was the latest star to have his future questioned after their Champions League last-16 exit to Paris Saint-Germain, while Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo are others to have been linked away since Rosenior was appointed Blues boss in January.
Before travelling to Everton, Rosenior fielded questions on potential outgoings if they fail to qualify for Europe’s elite competition again, but also on the work being done on incomings.
‘We’re having really detailed conversations now about the areas we want to strengthen,’ Rosenior said of the sporting directorship team, led by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.
‘I’ve had great conversations about what I think we need. We’re very aligned, actually, in terms of where we want to strengthen and how we go about that, which is very exciting.
‘The most important bit, though, is making sure we get the now right as well.
‘It’s great to be able to plan for the future, but I want to make sure we’re also in a good place. We want to win. That’s why I’m here, and I’m having really good conversations with the ownership and sporting directors about that.’
Liam Rosenior is adamant top stars such as Enzo Fernandez (pictured) want to stay at Chelsea
Rosenior spoke personally with Fernandez on Thursday morning after he gave an interview to ESPN Argentina following their 3-0 second-leg loss to PSG, in which he said ‘we will see’ when asked if he will still be with Chelsea next season.
‘In my conversations with the ownership and the sporting directors, our plans are not solely based on whether we make the Champions League or not,’ Rosenior said. ‘But there’s so many ifs.
‘We just have to make sure that the “if” we create is as positive as possible and we’re still in a position to do that.
‘I have a very, very good relationship with the players because we speak all the time. Not just about football, or the situation with their contracts, but about their life, how their kids are, how school is. I have a very, very close relationship with Enzo and with the other players.
‘In terms of contracts and where they want to be, there’s not one player at this club since I’ve been here that has said that he doesn’t want to be here in the summer. In fact, the conversations are more about how we improve, what we can do as a group to improve, what we need to do to win in this moment. That’s where we are at the moment.’
Asked if that means Fernandez, Palmer and Caicedo want to stay, Rosenior added: ‘They love it here.’
