Chelsea FC is in negotiations with Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca to succeed Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager.
Maresca, 44, led Leicester to promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship in his first season.
He is keen on joining Chelsea, and talks are ongoing between the two clubs. This comes after Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna withdrew from the running for the position.
While Roberto de Zerbi and Thomas Frank are still in the frame, there is a growing consensus within Chelsea that Maresca is the ideal candidate.
However, his appointment would require a compensation fee, with Leicester seeking between £8m and £10m. Chelsea is determined to agree on a package in the coming days.
Maresca was chosen from a four-man shortlist by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, with co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali playing a key role in the process.
The club utilized data analysis, interviews, and background checks to select their top candidate. Maresca’s prior knowledge of the squad and his experience working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City were seen as positives.
Chelsea believes Maresca will fit into their structure and get the best out of their expensive squad.
They are building an elite team and hope a hands-on, tactically proficient coach can deliver success.
Meanwhile, Kieran McKenna is being linked with Brighton and a potential return to Manchester United if Erik ten Hag leaves.
