Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has reportedly met Chelsea officials in London as the club steps up efforts to appoint a new head coach following Enzo Maresca’s departure.

Liam Rosenior has reportedly emerged as Chelsea’s leading candidate to become their next head coach, with British media claiming the Strasbourg manager met club officials in London on Monday.

The 39-year-old is said to have held discussions with Chelsea sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart as the club looks to move quickly in appointing a permanent successor to Enzo Maresca, who left Stamford Bridge last Thursday.

Rosenior, formerly of Hull City, is believed to be the preferred option for Chelsea’s ownership group BlueCo, who also control Strasbourg. If appointed, he would become the club’s fourth permanent head coach since the takeover in 2022.

Chelsea are currently under the temporary guidance of interim head coach Calum McFarlane, who confirmed after Sunday’s 1-1 draw away to Manchester City that he expected to oversee first-team training on Monday, though his role was not expected to extend far beyond that.

Rosenior’s name has been strongly linked with the vacancy since Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day, following growing tensions behind the scenes at Chelsea during the Italian’s tenure.

Club officials were reportedly unhappy with suggestions that Maresca had held talks with Manchester City about potentially succeeding Pep Guardiola at the end of the season, as well as disputes over his authority to override medical advice when reintegrating injured players.

Should Rosenior take charge, he would be working within a similar structure, with recruitment and squad planning handled by Chelsea’s sporting directors. His experience at Strasbourg, where he guided a young squad to a seventh-place finish and into the Europa Conference League knockout stages, is seen as a key factor in Chelsea’s interest.