Gary O'Neil is a strong contender for the soon-to-be vacant Strasbourg head coach role with three candidates being whittled down to two on Monday, football.london understands.
Liam Rosenior arrived in London on Sunday evening as he prepares to finalise his switch to Chelsea today (Monday). Rosenior looks set to leave Strasbourg, who are also ran by Chelsea's owners BlueCo, midway through the season but the French club are in the final stages of appointing a new head coach to replace the 41-year-old.
O'Neil is one of three final candidates with the list expected to be reduced to two on Monday. The 42-year-old has been out of a job since leaving Wolves in December 2024, having previously been in charge at Bournemouth for just under a year before that.
Strasbourg are preparing for life without Rosenior, who has been with the Ligue 1 club since being appointed at the start of the 2024/25 campaign. BlueCo are understood to be big admirers of the former Hull City boss and believe his style of football is not dissimilar to Enzo Maresca's, so the adaptation period should not be as complicated.
Calum McFarlane, Chelsea Under-21s head coach, took charge of the senior side for their first match post-Maresca and set his side up for a 1-1 draw away at Manchester City. In his first-ever senior game in charge of a team, McFarlane saw the Blues equalise in the 94th minute via Enzo Fernandez at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking after the dramatic draw, McFarlane was asked whether he would be taking training over the next couple of days with Chelsea back in action on Wednesday evening away at Fulham. McFarlane replied: "Yes, so we're training tomorrow. Unless I'm told otherwise this evening, I'll be taking that session.
"My sole focus has obviously been on this game and the challenge that this is. But until I am told otherwise, I will lead the team. So for this moment, I am taking the session tomorrow."
Chelsea will now conduct an interview process with Rosenior, though that is likely to be a formality. We are expecting another update in the next 24 hours regarding Rosenior and the Blues.
