Set-piece specialist and highly rated coach Austin MacPhee is expected to join Chelsea from Aston Villa after five excellent years at the West Midlands club club.
Chelsea have reportedly agreed to sign Austin MacPhee from Aston Villa, with the 46-year-old, highly rated coach specialising in set pieces, expected to end his five-year stay in Birmingham, according to Ben Jacobs. The Blues want the best possible options for Xabi Alonso to succeed next season, and the coach’s arrival will add an edge to their performances.
Chelsea and Aston Villa have managed to conduct some eye-catching transfer business over the last few days. First, it was the Blues who signed Morgan Rogers in a £117 million deal, beating Arsenal in the race for the England international.
Shortly after, Aston Villa agreed a deal with Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho and took the winger on loan with a conditional obligation to buy inserted into the deal. However, there are further links to more players being connected with Aston Villa, although the club are now set to lose an influential part of their coaching staff to Chelsea.
Chelsea to sign Aston Villa set-piece coach?
Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Austin MacPhee, the highly rated Scottish coach who specialises in set pieces. The Blues are probably heading in the direction Xabi Alonso wants for the club moving forward, as set pieces are seen as a major area for improvement.
The Athletic stated that Chelsea managed to trigger a release clause in MacPhee’s contract and take him away from Villa, where he has spent the last five years. The Scot’s also held a role with the Portuguese national team as part of Roberto Martinez’s staff, although with the Spaniard’s departure, he will now focus on his club career.
MacPhee’s work with Aston Villa may have gone under the radar, as the team, which won the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premier League, were joint-best for set-piece goals (29) across all competitions alongside Arsenal.
Chelsea will have a strong weapon on their hands if MacPhee can get the best out of this team moving forward. The 46-year-old coach’s departure will be a big blow for Villa, who will look to replace him with someone of equal stature. As for current set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva, he will move into a behind-the-scenes analytical role under Alonso.