Chelsea in talks for Villa set-piece guru MacPhee

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Chelsea are in talks to bring Aston Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee to the club, with interest also coming from other Premier League sides and teams in the Saudi Pro League. The report says Villa would be entitled to compensation because MacPhee’s contract is understood to include a release clause.

MacPhee, 46, is a Scottish coach who has worked at Villa Park while also holding a comparable set-piece role with Portugal’s national team for the past five years under Roberto Martinez. According to BBC Sport, Villa’s set-piece output has been a major part of his reputation: the club led Europe’s top five leagues for goals from dead-ball situations in 2023-24, stayed among the leading sides the following season, and finished joint-top with Arsenal in the Premier League last season.

The possible move comes during a period of staff change at Aston Villa, after MacPhee was part of the backroom group that helped the club win the Europa Conference League and qualify for the Champions League under Unai Emery, the BBC reported. Chelsea, meanwhile, have room to adjust their staff because Bernardo Cueva, who arrived from Brentford in 2024, is shifting away from a touchline set-piece role into a more background position.

The report also notes recent player business between the clubs, saying Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Villa for £117m this week, while Alejandro Garnacho moved the other way on an initial loan that is likely to become permanent through an option to buy.