After parting ways with Enzo Maresca on the very first day of the New Year, the Blues were looking to bring in a head coach who would fully align with their vision. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea chose their sister club's manager, Liam Rosenior, as the best candidate for the role. His immediate goal will be to turn around their poor form, which has resulted in only one win in the last nine Premier League games, pushing them down to 8th in the table.
It has become evident that Chelsea requires defensive reinforcements this winter if they want to contend for major titles come the end of the season. Rosenior primarily used a back three system at Strasbourg, unlike Maresca, who deployed a back four. If the English coach follows the same strategy at Stamford Bridge, he will need to add depth to his backline.
Rumours suggested he wants the club to sign a new right-sided defender even if they already have Reece James and Malo Gusto. In fact, he wants one of the best in that position in recent Premier League history.
According to Fichajes, Rosenior considers it crucial to reinforce the right-back position with a proven, leadership-oriented player. Trent-Alexander Arnold fits that description perfectly. He has requested a loan until the end of the season with some kind of option to buy.
Liam Rosenior wants Chelsea to sign Real Madrid player
Los Blancos, on the other hand, view the 27-year-old as a valuable asset and have no intention of letting him leave on a temporary deal. They will supposedly only do business on a permanent basis and will only accept offers worth more than €40 million, with the player's current contract expiring in 2031.
Alexander-Arnold had great success with his boyhood club Liverpool, winning every major tournament before moving for free last summer. He is a natural right-back, but he is also comfortable giving cover in midfield. Additionally, he can play in the wing-back position with ease. In fact, one could argue that it would best suit his strengths while hiding some of his weaknesses.
His start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu has been marred by injuries, with only 11 appearances and one assist to his name this season. Even when available, he has not been a nailed-on starter.
Rosenior wants his full-backs to play higher up the field and make forward runs in wide areas. So, it is not hard to see why he might believe Alexander-Arnold can be a key player in turning Chelsea's fortunes around in the second half of the season. Furthermore, bringing in the 27-year-old would also provide the Blues with a proven Premier League performer capable of impacting games from both ends of the field.
Although the Blues have already shown immense trust in Rosenior by handing him such a long-term deal, now it remains to be seen whether they will back him in the transfer market. Oftentimes, their model has taken precedence over what the team needs to succeed on the pitch.