Rosenior's Exit Throws Barco Deal Into Limbo as Chelsea Hunt New Manager

The dust hasn't even settled on Liam Rosenior's departure, and already Chelsea find themselves facing fresh complications on the transfer front. Valentin Barco's proposed arrival at Stamford Bridge—previously thought to be in the bag—now stands in genuine doubt following the manager's dismissal.

Rosenior's tenure at Chelsea lasted just long enough to become a cautionary tale. After a dreadful sequence of five consecutive defeats, culminating in Tuesday night's 3-0 hammering by Brighton, the club had little choice but to act. The former Strasbourg boss had made an ambitious leap to the Premier League, only to discover he wasn't quite ready for it.

Barco, who worked under Rosenior at the French outfit, had seemingly agreed personal terms with Chelsea ahead of a summer switch. The Argentine had given his blessing to the move, with everything reportedly locked in place from the player's perspective. Yet with Rosenior gone, the new permanent manager will effectively hold veto power over whether the deal proceeds at all.

For now, Calum McFarlane has assumed interim duties for a second time this season, stepping up from Chelsea's academy ranks. He'll take charge for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final showdown against Leeds United, though the club's hierarchy will be casting a wider net for a permanent solution.

That search, however, has already hit obstacles. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Edin Terzic is off the market—the German tactician has struck a verbal agreement with Athletic Club Bilbao and isn't part of Chelsea's current thinking, despite speculation linking him with the Stamford Bridge job.

Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, remains firmly committed to Manchester City's long-term plans. Romano has categorically ruled out any return to Chelsea for the Leicester City manager, explaining that City view him as their ideal successor to Pep Guardiola down the line. Whether that succession happens this summer or next remains uncertain, but Maresca is considered the leading candidate internally at the Etihad. Other names—including Vincent Kompany and various Spanish coaches—have been mentioned in connection with City's future, though nothing has been formally concluded.