Chelsea Football Club is currently engaged in negotiations to secure Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca as the potential successor to Mauricio Pochettino.
Enzo Maresca, aged 44, assumed the managerial role at Leicester in June 2023. He recently steered the Foxes back to the Premier League by clinching the Championship title in his inaugural season.
Maresca has expressed interest in joining Chelsea, with ongoing discussions between the two clubs. This development comes after Ipswich Town’s manager Kieran McKenna withdrew from consideration for the position.
Roberto de Zerbi, former manager of Brighton, and Thomas Frank from Brentford remain under consideration, though Maresca appears to be the preferred choice among Chelsea’s decision-makers.
Compensation fees would be required for the acquisition of any remaining candidates. Leicester City reportedly seeks compensation in the range of £8m-£10m for Maresca’s release, given his background as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
The completion of the deal hinges on Chelsea’s willingness to meet Leicester’s compensation demands. However, Chelsea is resolute in reaching a compensation agreement in the imminent future.
Maresca was selected from a shortlist of four candidates, primarily by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. Co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali has played a pivotal role in the negotiations.
The decision to pursue Maresca was informed by a combination of data analysis, interviews, and background checks. Chelsea views Maresca as a suitable fit for the club’s structure, citing his familiarity with the squad and his tenure as Guardiola’s assistant.
The club aspires to maintain its elite status and believes that Maresca’s tactical acumen can maximize the potential of their roster, which has been assembled at considerable expense.
Meanwhile, Kieran McKenna, the former assistant manager at Manchester United who led Ipswich to Championship promotion, is linked with a potential move to Brighton or a return to Old Trafford in the event of Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.
Ipswich intends to retain McKenna and is prepared to offer him a new contract, although indications suggest he may not extend his current deal, which runs until 2027. Any interested club would need to pay Ipswich a minimum of £4m in compensation for McKenna’s services.
