Chelsea are in discussions with Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca to appoint him as the replacement for Mauricio Pochettino. The Italian, 44, took charge of Leicester in June 2023 and has successfully led them back to the Premier League by winning the Championship at the first attempt.
Maresca’s Interest and Club Negotiations
Maresca has expressed interest in moving to Chelsea, and negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing. This development comes 24 hours after Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna withdrew from consideration for the role. While former Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank remain in contention, there is a broad consensus within Chelsea that Maresca is the preferred choice.
Compensation and Financial Considerations
Chelsea will need to pay compensation for any managerial appointment. Leicester City is reportedly seeking £8m-£10m in compensation for Maresca, who previously served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. The deal’s success hinges on Chelsea’s willingness to meet this financial demand, but the club is determined to finalize a compensation package in the coming days.
Pochettino’s Departure and Maresca’s Selection Process
Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent last week after a sixth-place finish in the Premier League during his single season in charge. Maresca was selected by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart from a four-man shortlist, with co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali playing a significant role in the decision-making process. The selection involved a combination of data analysis, interviews, and due diligence background checks.
Maresca’s Fit within Chelsea’s Structure
Chelsea believes Maresca is an ideal fit for the club’s structure, impressed by his previous knowledge of the squad and his background working as Guardiola’s assistant. The board sees parallels with Mikel Arteta’s successful rebuilding at Arsenal after leaving Manchester City. Chelsea aims to build an elite structure and believes that a hands-on, tactically proficient coach like Maresca can maximize the potential of their expensively assembled squad.
