Chelsea needs to move quickly if they wants Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes. Sources say Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Manchester United are all eyeing the young French defender.

Before Enzo Maresca left as Chelsea’s manager on New Year’s Day, he pushed hard to bring in another centre-back. The club has been tracking Jacquet for a while now—he’s one of Europe’s top young defenders and has been on their radar all season.

Maresca wasn’t happy with the options he had in central defence and doubted the club would fix the problem in January. Still, Chelsea kept up their scouting effort, digging deep into Jacquet’s performances.

Now, they’re reaching a point where they have to make a call: go after Jacquet or risk missing out. And they don’t have much time. Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, and Real Madrid are all in the mix, so the fight for Jacquet is heating up.

Jacquet made a real impression in Ligue 1. He’s strong, reads the game well, and doesn’t play like a typical 20-year-old. The stats back it up—he’s leading his age group in interceptions and aerial duels across Europe’s big leagues.

People close to the deal think those qualities make him a perfect fit for the Premier League. It’s no wonder Chelsea, despite all the upheaval with managers, keeps watching him closely.

Rennes are having a solid year, sitting sixth in Ligue 1 with 30 points from 17 matches. They’re just two points away from a Champions League spot, and Jacquet has played every minute of their 16 league games. He’s been a rock at the back.

Some already compare him to William Saliba from Arsenal and France. His former development coach at Rennes, Pierre-Emmanuel Bordeau, told talkSPORT last August, “He must gain consistency and reliability over a whole game, but he is the technical leader of his generation.”

In other Chelsea news, sources tell us Graeme Bailey is checking whether Enzo Maresca is ready to take over as Manchester United’s next manager after leaving Chelsea. Meanwhile, Fraser Fletcher reports that Liam Rosenior has told Chelsea about plans for his backroom staff if he comes in from Strasbourg. And Chelsea now faces competition from Juventus for a Newcastle United midfielder.

Chelsea are close to naming Liam Rosenior as their new manager. He’s agreed to a key demand from the club, and he’s already told them he wants to bring his coaching team over from Strasbourg. Rosenior landed in London this past weekend to hammer out the final details after Enzo Maresca’s sudden exit on New Year’s Day. Right now, Rosenior runs Strasbourg, which belongs to the same BlueCo group that owns Chelsea.

Things are moving fast. Sources say Rosenior could be in the dugout as soon as Wednesday, when Chelsea plays Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Maresca’s abrupt departure kicked off this search—he left after falling out with the club’s higher-ups and a poor run of results. BlueCo quickly zeroed in on Rosenior because he fits their focus on youth and a possession-heavy style.

Rosenior, who used to play fullback for Fulham, Reading, and Brighton, has made a mark since taking over Strasbourg in early 2024. He led them to seventh in Ligue 1 last season, nabbing a spot in the 2025/26 Conference League. People have noticed how well he brings through young players and his fresh tactical approach.

Chelsea’s sporting directors have been impressed, too—Rosenior already knows several of them from earlier jobs. After a 1-1 draw with Nice on Saturday, Rosenior flew to London with Strasbourg president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir on January 4.

Talks and formal interviews were picked up at Cobham. Interim boss Calum McFarlane, who just got a draw at Manchester City, looks set to step aside soon.

Rosenior wants to bring Justin Walker, Khalifa Cisse, and Filipe Coelho with him from Strasbourg. Only Coelho, who BlueCo hired last summer, seems certain to stay on and help during the transition. The club hasn’t signed off on the rest yet.

Don’t expect Chelsea to go wild in the January transfer window. The board thinks the squad is strong enough, and Rosenior gets that—he’s ready to work with what he’s got. Still, if a good deal pops up, they’ll look at it.

But there’s one thing BlueCo won’t ignore: they need the right person to replace Rosenior at Strasbourg. They know fans in France are wary of the multi-club setup, so they want a smooth switch. Gary O’Neil is in the mix—he’s managed Bournemouth and Wolves and is available right now. According to journalists Jacob Steinberg and Ben Jacobs, O’Neil is on Strasbourg’s final shortlist and is interested in taking over. A decision’s coming soon.

Some people wonder if this is all happening too fast for Rosenior, considering he’s only managed Derby County, Hull City, and recently Strasbourg. But Chelsea’s top brass believe he fits their long-term plan and understands the BlueCo vision.

Everyone’s waiting for the official word, but it looks like Rosenior will kick off his Chelsea career with a big one—back at Craven Cottage, facing his old club Fulham in a London derby.