Chelsea hatch fresh centre-back plan as Liam Rosenior looks to recall ANOTHER loanee amid Jeremy Jacquet transfer pursuit

Ahead of the final days of the winter transfer window, Chelsea are without injured centre-backs Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill. Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana are their first-choice defenders at present, but Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong have also played in that position this season. It seems the Chelsea hierarchy are not convinced with their defensive options, especially as they want Rennes' Jacquet. Earlier this week, the Blues also recalled young Argentine centre-back Aaron Anselmino from his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund. But are they done there?

Rosenior, who swapped Strasbourg for Chelsea earlier this month, said it is a "priority" for the club to make his squad as strong as possible before the February 2 transfer window deadline. 

"The priority is to make the squad as strong as possible for the rest of the season. That’s always the priority. I’ve been a manager long enough to know things can change very, very quickly in the January market in terms of who’s out there, and the situation with our players," he said.

When asked if centre-back was a key position to strengthen, he replied: "It is a possibility. Every area. My job and the guys’ job is to try to strengthen every area. If we see something, I know the guys are willing to do it. I don’t want to bring in players for the sake of it. There is a possibility it could be busy. There is a possibility it could be quiet."

Now, according to Fabrice Hawkins, Rosenior wants to bring Strasbourg loanee Mamadou Sarr back to Chelsea. The ex-Hull City boss has made this a 'priority' and talks are ongoing to terminate his loan at the French side.

After Rosenior's first season in charge at Strasbourg, he heaped praise on Senegal centre-back Sarr after seeing his progression first hand. The 20-year-old defender played 28 times for the French side last season, with Rosenior joking he is so fond of the 6ft4 Sarr that he sees him as a sort of "son". 

Before Sarr signed for Chelsea, which then led to him being loaned back to Strasbourg for the season, Rosenior said last June: "I could talk about him for hours. His nickname is Mamadou Rosenior, he’s my son. It’s scary to show such performances at 19 with such calm in the face of such strong teams. He just has to stay humble and calm and he will be a top player for sure. His temperament, his athleticism, his ability on the ball… he’s got everything you need to be a world-class centre-half."

Although reports suggest Rosenior is very keen on Sarr, and has spoken to him about a Stamford Bridge recall, he himself admitted that he is very grateful to be a head coach and not a manager. Meaning, he can focus on training rather than transfers and more. 

He said this week: "That's the beauty of being a head coach within a structure: I'm not an old-school manager that's got out the phone and is making calls," Rosenior said. "I've got the best people, I think, in world football working on those things. I probably see the last two per cent of the work they do, which allows me to focus on what I need to focus on: the team and the performance. One hundred per cent. I don't want to be sat in an office all day. I want to be on the training pitch."

Chelsea are next in action on Saturday at home to West Ham.