Rosenior publishes a Chelsea transfer update as deadline day approaches

Liam Rosenior admits he only sees “the last two per cent” of Chelsea’s transfer business as the Blues chase a £60m deal for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet ahead of Monday’s 7pm deadline.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has given a straightforward assessment of his role in the club’s transfer dealings as deadline day approaches. The 41-year-old revealed he is focusing on the team’s performance while the sporting directors handle negotiations, admitting he is only attending the final stages of any potential deal.

Chelsea are racing to complete a move for Rennes centre-back Jacquet before the window closes at 7pm on Monday. The Ligue 1 club want a club-record fee in excess of £50m for the France Under-21 international, although they prefer to keep the 20-year-old until the summer. Rosenior, who signed a six-and-a-half-year contract at the start of January, has won five of his first six games in charge, but remains in need of defensive reinforcements.

The Blues have agreed personal terms with Jacquet and are pushing for an immediate transfer rather than waiting until the summer window. “I don’t want to bring in players that don’t improve the group or the chemistry we’re building,” Rosenior said. “If we bring in the right player in a certain position, he has to have a clear impact on the team.”

Chelsea’s pursuit comes as they look to bolster a defense missing Levi Colwill, who is recovering from an ACL injury. The club have recalled Aaron Anselmino from his loan at Borussia Dortmund as cover. Meanwhile, centre-back Axel Disasi is expected to leave Stamford Bridge before the deadline, with West Ham leading the race for a loan move.

Rosenior explained his limited involvement in the negotiations: “I’m not an old-school manager who’s got the phone out and is making calls. I’ve got the best people, I think, in world football working on these things. I probably see the last two percent of the work they do.” West Ham, Roma and Lyon have all registered an interest in Disasi, who has not played for Chelsea for more than a year despite only recently returning to first-team training.

The Blues currently sit fourth in the Premier League table and secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with victory over Napoli on Wednesday. That result earned the club £42.86m in prize money, which could bolster funds for any last-minute deals. Rosenior face West Ham on Saturday evening before sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley work against the clock ahead of Monday’s deadline.