Raheem Sterling
January 2026
Chelsea confirmed Sterling has left the club by mutual agreement and will look for a new club in January after not featuring this season. He fell out of favour, was placed in the “bomb squad” under Maresca, then loaned to Arsenal in 2024-25 with little impact and returned in summer before an exit was agreed; Rosenior avoided detailing his situation publicly.
Cole Palmer
January 2026
Rosenior again insists Palmer is happy at Chelsea and dismisses Manchester United links as baseless, saying there is no need for assurances about a sale. Rosenior repeats he has spoken to Palmer, frames the rumours as timing-related noise around managerial change, and says focus is on Palmer’s return and team improvement.
Cole Palmer
January 2026
Reports claim Palmer is homesick in London and would be open to joining Manchester United in the summer, but Chelsea view him as untouchable and Rosenior insists he is happy at the club. The report frames the interest around Palmer wanting a return to Manchester, while his season has been disrupted by a groin issue and he was omitted from the matchday squad versus Palace. Chelsea still have strong leverage due to his output since 2023.
Mykhailo Mudryk
January 2026
Rosenior said he hopes to speak with Mudryk soon as the winger remains under an indefinite provisional ban after an FA anti-doping charge, with the case still unresolved and a potential four-year suspension possible. Mudryk said the positive test was a shock and denied knowingly taking banned substances, citing confidentiality while his team investigates. He cannot train with teammates under the ban and has kept a low profile, while Shakhtar have publicly backed him as innocent.
Elliot Anderson
January 2026
United reportedly think Anderson leans toward a move to City, with both clubs and Chelsea tracking the Forest midfielder, while Forest expect him to stay through January. United are planning a midfield rebuild with a shortlist including Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba. City are also expected to recruit centrally given Rodri’s ongoing fitness concerns after a serious knee injury and limited league starts.
Yisa Alao
January 2026
Chelsea are reportedly close to signing 17-year-old Sheffield Wednesday defender Yisa Alao, beating Manchester United to the deal with a package that could exceed £1m including add-ons. The structure is said to be about £500k upfront with performance-related bonuses. The move fits Chelsea’s youth-heavy recruitment model and gives Rosenior an early market win against a direct Premier League rival.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
January 2026
Mateta has reportedly informed Palace he wants to leave, believing the club no longer matches his ambitions. He is unhappy that recruitment assurances and proposed contract terms were not met, and he wants regular European football. Reports say he wanted to go last summer and stalled in late-2025 contract talks hardened his stance. Juventus proposed a loan with conditional purchase, Palace rejected it and set a higher valuation, while Villa and Chelsea have also contacted his camp.
Axel Disasi
January 2026
Rosenior brought Disasi back into first-team training after a year out, driven by need and a reset approach, while Adarabioyo is out for weeks and Sterling remains outside the main group. Rosenior said he met Disasi to clear the air and offered a clean slate, but noted he is behind on match fitness. The move follows Adarabioyo’s hamstring issue and ongoing attempts to find a permanent exit for Sterling before the window shuts.
Jamie Carragher
January 2026
Carragher said Carrick should not be considered for the permanent United job, arguing he lacks the elite level needed to win the Premier League. He compared Carrick to Rosenior as managers unlikely to topple top-tier rivals, then selected a shortlist of Nagelsmann, Tuchel, Luis Enrique, and Howe, with Tuchel singled out as having the edge and confrontational drive to reset a drifting club.
Jeremy Jacquet Rennes
January 2026
Chelsea reportedly agreed personal terms with 20-year-old centre-back Jacquet and moved into pole position, though Rennes are holding out for a club-record fee. Chelsea accelerated talks after Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca, with Rennes seeking around £56 million while Chelsea’s reported bid is lower; despite the gap, the expectation is a deal before the window closes as Chelsea aim to reinforce central defence.
