Chelsea manager target reaches ‘verbal agreement’ to join Bilbao
Chelsea are already poised to miss out on one of their manager targets, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that he’s agreed to join Athletic Club.
The Blues’ hunt for their next permanent manager has taken another unexpected turn, with one of their shortlisted names this week agreeing to take his talents elsewhere.
The backdrop is one the club has become painfully accustomed to.
Liam Rosenior was dismissed on Wednesday after overseeing a run of five straight Premier League defeats without a single goal — the worst run at Stamford Bridge in over a century.
Calum McFarlane stepped in as caretaker, and BlueCo began the process of identifying their fifth permanent manager since taking over the club in 2022.
Instability, it seems, remains the one constant at the Bridge.
Chelsea want ‘wildcard’ manager to replace Rosenior, but he’s waiting for Liverpool
The Blues have begun searching for yet another new boss.
The search has produced more dead ends than promising leads.
Xabi Alonso — a name which would immediately set pulses racing among the fanbase — was described by insider Simon Phillips as a total wildcard, with the Spaniard understood to be holding out for the Liverpool job rather than committing to Chelsea.
Andoni Iraola, widely reported as the frontrunner following initial contact made by the club, remains in contention but is also attracting serious interest from elsewhere.
And now Edin Terzić, who had been placed firmly on the shortlist in the days following Rosenior’s sacking (RMC Sport), appears to be heading to Spain.
Chelsea to miss out on Terzic after Athletic Club agreement
Romano confirmed on Thursday that Terzic has a verbal agreement in place to take over at Athletic Club Bilbao, where he will succeed the legendary Ernesto Valverde when the Basque club’s season concludes.
Nothing is signed yet, and Romano was careful to note that the next steps are still being formalised — but the German-Croatian is described as the clear favourite for the role, and the direction of travel is unambiguous.
For Terzic, the move represents a return to the dugout after nearly two years away from management.
He departed Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2024, weeks after they lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid, having guided them to one of the most dramatic nights in the competition’s recent history.
Since then, he has been working as a television pundit in Germany for Amazon Prime and RTL — a relatively low-key existence for a manager of his standing, but one that has clearly not dulled his appeal to top clubs.
He was on Man United’s shortlist two years ago before they pursued other options, alongside being linked to Tottenham.
Athletic Club are a compelling proposition.
The Bilbao side sit ninth in La Liga but remain only three points behind the European places, meaning Terzic could walk straight into continental competition upon his arrival — a significant draw for a manager with proven Champions League experience.
Chelsea are left to recalibrate.
Iraola remains a very appealing option, while Cesc Fàbregas continues to be mentioned as a potential option given his Chelsea connections, while other unnamed candidates are understood to be on a broader list.
Chelsea doing groundwork to appoint two-time title winner as Rosenior replacement
The Blues are ramping up their pursuit of a manager who plays “liquid” football.
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