Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Fri 24 April 2026 8:09, UK

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Estevao would take a step forward under potential new Chelsea manager Andoni Iraola, who is in the running to replace Liam Rosenior.

The Blues decided to cut the 41-year-old’s time at Stamford Bridge short on Wednesday after his team had lost 3-0 to Brighton, in a fifth straight Premier League defeat without scoring.

Rosenior had shown promising signs in his first weeks in charge of Chelsea, but his experience was ultimately found lacking.

Iraola is among several names in the race to replace him, after he announced that he would be leaving Bournemouth at the end of his contract this summer.

Here, Football Insider looks at three players who would thrive under the guidance of the potential next Chelsea manager.

Estevao

Chelsea plan to give Estevao a new contract before this summer’s World Cup, with the teenager’s emergence proving a bright spot this season.

The 19-year-old has been a breath of fresh air in the Blues’ attack, although his recent string of hamstring injuries will provide concern.

Iraola specialises in managing young players, and his greatest success story comes in the form of another right-winger.

Antoine Semenyo had just scored six goals in the Championship when the Spaniard arrived at the Vitality Stadium to manage him.

In just three years, the 26-year-old has become scarily good in front of goal, earning his £64million fee to Manchester City in January and continuing to perform there.

Should Iraola manage to have a similar effect on Estevao, Chelsea could have an astonishing player on their hands.

Jorrel Hato

There are few Chelsea defenders about whom it can be said that they have all the tools to progress into a superb player, but Jorrel Hato is one.

The 20-year-old arrived from Ajax in 2025 and has featured with increasing involvement over the last few months, appearing at both left-back and centre-back.

And if there’s anything Iraola loves, it is developing a young defender. Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and now James Hill, the list of defenders to have taken the step up under him is endless.

His arrival would also be good news for the likes of Mamadou Sarr, Josh Acheampong, Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto, but Hato may be the man to benefit most.

Andrey Santos

There is a recurring theme to the players likely to perform well under Iraola – they are young and full of untapped potential.

The 43-year-old’s superb job developing the talent at Bournemouth may well win him the Chelsea job, but his tactics are sound as well.

Andrey Santos has been in and out of the team at times this season, but he is the sort of all-action midfielder that Iraola would love.

The progression of Marcus Tavernier shows exactly why, with the 27-year-old now featuring in all manner of positions to a brilliant degree.

The Englishman has become central to Bournemouth’s success, and Santos could have a similar effect at Chelsea.