Rosenior agrees to join Chelsea, as Fulham fear losing Silva to Man U ahead of West London derby

TOMORROW night's West London derby between Fulham and Chelsea at Craven Cottage (kickoff 10pm), will have some extra spice to it. 

In one corner, the visiting Blues will have a new manager after Strasbourg’s Liam Rosenior “agreed” to take the reins at Chelsea after Enzo Maresca’s departure last week. 

Rosenior, incidentally, represented tonight's opponents the Cottagers as a player between 2003 and 2007. 

In the other corner, Fulham are fearing that Manchester United will jep their leading man Marco Silva. 

According to The Sun in the UK, Silva’s contract at Fulham expires at the end of the season, with the publication writing: “Fulham are braced for an approach from Manchester United for manager Marco Silva.

“Head coach Silva has yet to give his Craven Cottage bosses any response to the offer of a three-and-a-half-year contract back in November.” 

After also being linked with the job before Ruben Amorim took over in 2024, Silva seems to be a realistic target for the Red Devils.

While Silva could be headed for the exit sign, rival Rosenior is looking at the entrance sign at Stamford Bridge and said in a press conference at Strasbourg on Tuesday that he “verbally agreed” to become the next manager of Chelsea, adding it was “an opportunity I cannot turn down”.

“It looks like I am going to be the next manager of that football club.”

Little-known Rosenior, 41, had been widely touted as the frontrunner to succeed Enzo Maresca since the Italian was sacked on Thursday, not least because Strasbourg and Chelsea are owned by the same consortium, BlueCo.

The former Hull City manager, who has no Premier League coaching experience, will become Chelsea’s fourth permanent boss since BlueCo took control of the Londoners in 2022.

Rosenior said he had wanted to announce the news himself in Strasbourg because of his deep feelings for the club.