Liam Rosenior tells Chelsea to recall £12m star from loan immediately

Liam Rosenior is eager for Chelsea to bring Mamadou Sarr back to the club from his loan spell at Strasbourg.

Sarr starred for Rosenior at Chelsea’s partner club Strasbourg last year with a deal to take him to Stamford Bridge initially struck in January before the £12million move was completed in the summer.

He was part of the Blues squad that won the Club World Cup last summer but returned to France to rejoin Strasbourg on loan for the 2025-26 season.

Chelsea have been eager to bolster their defensive options this month and have been in talks to sign another Ligue 1 star in Rennes centre-half Jeremy Jacquet. The Premier League side have been unable to agree a fee however with Rennes determined to keep hold of one of their prized assets until the end of the campaign.

Chelsea are continuing to push for Jacquet but there are now talks taking place to terminate Sarr’s loan for him to return to west London ahead of schedule, RMC Sport report.

Rosenior has made getting the 20-year-old back to Stamford Bridge a ‘priority’, suggesting he could have an important role to play in the second-half of the season with Chelsea still fighting on four fronts.

Chelsea recalled Aaron Anselmino from his loan at Borussia Dortmund this week and could send him to Strasbourg to replace Sarr.

Sarr, who played an integral role in Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations success, would also be reunited with Andrey Santos in west London. The Brazil international excelled on loan at Strasbourg last season, kept at Chelsea this campaign where he has made 27 appearances this season.

Sarr will hope to follow a similar trajectory with places up for grabs in the Chelsea backline.

While Trevoh Chalobah has excelled this term, Levi Colwill’s ACL injury in August has left a void. The England international was expected to miss the entire season but Rosenior suggested this week he could yet have a role to play.

‘I’ve spoken to him this morning, he is really good,’ the Chelsea boss said on Friday.

‘He’s working so hard in terms of his rehab. It’s been brilliant to see him back out on the pitch now, doing his running, which is a huge step for him after ACL injury.

‘He’s itching to get back, but again we need to make sure that when he is back he feels 100 per cent perfect again.

‘I don’t like putting timeframes on injuries because I think it puts unnecessary pressure on players where their health is the most important thing.’