Enzo Maresca is considering resigning as Chelsea head coach after fallout between Maresca and Behdad Egbhali

Chelsea is quietly preparing for the possibility of replacing Enzo Maresca, with Liam Rosenior emerging as their preferred long-term candidate as uncertainty swirls around the current manager’s future.

Former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains deeply connected within football circles, exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Chelsea is strategically planning for multiple scenarios regarding Maresca’s position at Stamford Bridge.

This development follows Brown’s earlier disclosure that Maresca could be lured away from Chelsea, with persistent rumors linking him to the Manchester City managerial role in 2027.

Saturday’s disappointing 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa has only intensified the pressure, with increasingly frustrated fans voicing concerns over the team’s erratic form.

Rosenior, who is currently at the helm of Strasbourg, brings a significant advantage: he already has established relationships with Chelsea’s BlueCo ownership and has quickly built a reputation as one of football’s most promising young managers.

**Rosenior positioned as ideal successor to Maresca**

As Football Insider revealed in November, Manchester City is actively searching for Pep Guardiola’s eventual successor, and Maresca sits high on their list of potential targets.

In response, Brown—whose impressive résumé includes working alongside elite managers, notably spending over a decade with Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United—confirms that Chelsea is proactively developing their own succession strategy.

“Maresca’s made a misstep with his recent public comments,” Brown told Football Insider candidly.

“By being cryptic and refusing to elaborate on certain statements, he’s only amplified the speculation rather than quelling it. The rumors will continue to swirl because of that ambiguity.

“From Chelsea’s perspective, they need to be ready for whatever unfolds with him.

“Liam Rosenior is absolutely going to be in the conversation, and he genuinely deserves consideration.

“He’s a talented young English coach who’s done everything right—earned his badges, built an outstanding reputation at Hull, which is my former club, so I witnessed firsthand how highly regarded he was there.

“It’s unfortunate that Hull’s ownership didn’t appreciate his value the way the staff and supporters did, but he’s since gone to France and truly made his mark.

“He’s cultivated an impressive reputation, not unlike Roy Hodgson who established himself in Sweden all those years ago before returning to make his name in England.

“Everyone I speak with in the game rates Rosenior exceptionally highly, and he’s absolutely qualified to take on the Chelsea job—he’s more than earned that right.

“The fact that he’s already working within the ownership’s structure at Strasbourg gives him a natural advantage, so he’ll definitely be their go-to option if Maresca leaves for whatever reason.”

**Maresca’s controversial comments spark exit speculation**

While Chelsea secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Everton earlier this month, it was Maresca’s post-match comments that dominated the headlines. He dramatically declared it had been “the worst 48 hours” of his Chelsea tenure.

The remark seemed pointedly aimed at the club’s ownership and ironically generated a groundswell of support from fans who recognize the substantial progress made under his guidance.

However, Brown told Football Insider that Maresca’s public outburst has raised red flags about his commitment to the role, and the club’s hierarchy was almost certainly displeased with his candor.