Chelsea have had a difficult few weeks both on and off the pitch, but the appointment of Liam Rosenior brings hope of new beginnings.
The Blues have not won a Premier League match in their last five games, which has seen them fall from a title challenge to eighth place in the league table in a matter of weeks.
Rosenior watched from the stands as Chelsea battled Fulham in Wednesday night’s west London derby at Craven Cottage, but today he will lead their first away game against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup.
The late kick-off presents an opportunity for the former Strasbourg boss to give fans a positive first impression of his progression in the domestic competition.
However, it will take more than a win over the Championship side to fully convince the Chelsea faithful that there is light at the end of the tunnel, as resistance against ownership continues to grow.
In terms of the transfer window, it would not be a surprise if Chelsea were active for the remaining weeks, and looking for new signings who can make an instant impact would be advantageous given their current form.
The defeat to Fulham, along with just one win in their last nine league games, is a clear indication that the Blues are nowhere near the finished article, indicating the potential for a strong recruitment campaign.
According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea will face several clubs for the signing of Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola.
The publication claims that they can confirm that Chelsea are in regular contact with the Champions League holders, along with Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, who are also interested in landing his signature.
PSG are believed to have no interest in selling their striker this month, but with intermediaries in regular contact with interested clubs, a summer move cannot be ruled out.
The Ligue 1 giants are also interested in starting talks to extend Barcola’s stay beyond his current 2028 contract.
Should Chelsea pursue Bradley Barcola?
There is no doubt that Barcola is one of the best prospects in European football and the interest in his possible availability is not surprising.
The 23-year-old, who has an estimated price tag of £87million, is fighting for a place in PSG’s talented attacking unit, facing competition from the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.
In 23 appearances for PSG this season, Barcola has scored five goals and registered four assists, averaging 60 minutes per game, with his most consistent run of minutes coming in Champions League games so far.
In terms of his long-term future, it is difficult to determine whether Barcola would be willing to move away from the French champions in search of a more prominent role, or whether he is content to be part of a highly successful but rotation-heavy attacking system.
Remaining on high alert and maintaining contact with PSG would be ideal for Chelsea, as circumstances could change if Barcola decides to turn down the opportunity to extend his contract in the summer.
However, the club’s hierarchy will have to carefully weigh up their short-term options as expectations remain high in west London and fans are unlikely to accept another lackluster campaign under BlueCo.
That said, it will be interesting to monitor Barcola’s future, but at this point it seems unlikely that PSG will part ways with their star in the immediate future.
