Chelsea Transfer News: Blues preparing move for gamechanger Rosenior wants

Chelsea are reportedly preparing to swiftly enter the transfer market by targeting high-profile names for new manager Liam Rosenior.

Rosenior has barely got his feet under the table, having been confirmed as the Blues’ replacement for Enzo Maresca, who left the club on New Year’s Day.

But with the transfer window open and Chelsea keen to salvage some success from the current campaign, it appears the powers that be are ready to hand the new boss the tools he needs in the shape of more attacking talent at Stamford Bridge.

And to that end, a recent report has claimed that one player on their shortlist is someone who ‘fits the profile’ of Rosenior’s ideal recruit.

According to Spanish football news outlet Fichajes, Blues officials are ready to hand Rosenior a €150m (£130m) transfer kitty to enhance the squad over the coming weeks.

It notes two high-profile targets in particular, with the long-linked Fermin Lopez of Barcelona one of them, as they hope to prey on the Catalan club’s financial anxieties.

However, the other could bring something different to the table. Unlike Lopez, Milan attacker Rafael Leao can play in multiple positions across the frontline, adding a blend of versatility and experience to Chelsea’s final third that they arguably do not already possess.

Although the Blues have the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrique George and Pedro Neto to call upon on the wing, they don’t have someone as accomplished as Rafael Leao who could transform into a No 9 to give Chelsea a brand-new option in attack.

The Portugal star has spent around 20% of his Milan career at centre-forward, and although he has not exactly been prolific there (14 goals in 53 appearances), it is similar to his output out wide (60 in 203) – differing by just over three percentage points.

And given the 26-year-old’s career, which has seen him play in the Champions League semi-finals, win Serie A, as well as the Nations League with Portugal, he would become one of the more experienced heads at Stamford Bridge.

This would mark a departure from BlueCo’s general transfer policy in west London, but with things turning sour with Maresca and the hierarchy already on to their fourth new manager, now is surely the time to try something a little different.

And if these reports are to be believed, that could yet be the path Chelsea go for this time around.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.