(Credit: Imago, Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Wed 22 April 2026 16:45, UK

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Chelsea would consider appointing both Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis as manager if they decided to sack Liam Rosenior, sources have told Football Insider.

The Blues hierarchy are keen to give Rosenior more time to steady the ship despite a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat on Tuesday night, but they are already clear as to the route they would go down for a potential successor.

The West Londoners view an ex-player as the best option to replace Rosenior if they need to pull the trigger in the coming months, and sources have indicated that both Fabregas and Luis have caught the eye with their work.

Fabregas is currently in charge of Italian side Como, while Luis recently left Brazilian outfit Flamengo after winning seven trophies during his time in charge.

Chelsea are still committed to Rosenior at the moment, but that hasn’t stopped them from considering potential contingency plans for if results do not improve.

What have Cesc Fabregas and Filipe Luis achieved in management?

Football Insider revealed on Tuesday that Chelsea are keen to give Rosenior a full pre-season to get his ideas in place, as there is an acceptance at Stamford Bridge that he took charge at a difficult time.

The 41-year-old took the reins in the middle of the season, after the Blues felt forced into sacking Enzo Maresca against their wishes back in January.

They are set to give Rosenior at least the early part of next season in order to prove himself in the Premier League, but their intentions are already clear as to their next move, with both Fabregas and Luis on their radar if needed.

The former is in just his second season of senior management, but already has Como locked in a tight battle to potentially secure Champions League qualification for the first time in their history.

Meanwhile, Luis enjoyed a golden tenure in charge of Flamengo, but is now out of work after he was sacked in surprise fashion at the start of March.

Both are seen as young up-and-coming bosses who would be ready to take on the challenge of the Premier League, while also providing unity with the supporters if needed.

Chelsea set for difficult summer in the transfer market

Chelsea would ordinarily have been desperate to strengthen their squad with some big additions after their recent struggles, but that looks unlikely to be the case for them this summer.

Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Rosenior is set to be given a tighter budget to work with at Stamford Bridge, compared to the looser purse strings that have been applied in previous years.

The capital club are expecting to miss out on some of their top targets if they fail to secure Champions League qualification, while they are also ready to tweak their recruitment plan slightly ahead of the window.

Chelsea have routinely splashed the cash on developing talents in recent years, but they are now ready to focus on adding a little more proven experience to their group.

However, the constraints of their budget are set to make it a potentially difficult summer at Stamford Bridge, meaning there will be little room for error in the market.