Chelsea is in discussions to appoint Enzo Maresca, the current manager of Leicester City, as their new head coach. Maresca, who was previously Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, led Leicester to an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation last year. His impressive style of football has caught the attention of Chelsea’s management.
The London club has reportedly asked Leicester for permission to speak directly with Maresca, who is their top candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino, who managed Chelsea for one season, left the club after guiding them to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and securing a spot in the Europa Conference League. Under his leadership, Chelsea reached the League Cup final and the FA Cup semi-finals but failed to win any trophies.
In addition to Maresca, Chelsea has also considered Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna for the managerial position. Maresca, known for his possession-based game and focus on developing young talent, has an impressive track record, including managing Manchester City’s reserve team to the Premier League 2 title and a brief stint as head coach of Parma in Italy.
Sources indicate that Leicester would expect compensation of around £9 million ($11.5 million) if they allow Maresca to negotiate with Chelsea. As a former player, Maresca has won Serie A with Juventus and two UEFA Cups with Sevilla, adding to his appeal as a potential manager for Chelsea.
Be First to Comment