Chelsea are set to offer Enzo Maresca a lucrative five-year contract following discussions with the Leicester City manager. Maresca, favored to take on the role, is poised to succeed Mauricio Pochettino after positive negotiations over the weekend.
Despite initial interest in Kieran McKenna, Chelsea have now shifted their focus to Maresca and have not pursued Thomas Frank from Brentford. The club’s senior officials have dismissed rumors linking them to Roberto De Zerbi, believing that Maresca’s emphasis on possession play aligns well with Chelsea’s technically gifted squad.
In a departure from Pochettino’s short-term deal last summer, Chelsea are committed to providing Maresca with a long-term agreement. The 44-year-old coach, who secured Leicester’s promotion to the Premier League in his first season, is ready to depart the East Midlands for Stamford Bridge.
The negotiation process has been overseen by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. However, Chelsea will need to negotiate compensation with Leicester, who are expected to demand around £10 million to release Maresca from his contract. Close sources to Maresca have indicated that he is not in a hurry to leave Leicester and may reconsider his decision to move to London.
While discussions with Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna have now cooled off, Chelsea’s attention has turned fully towards securing Maresca’s services. McKenna, who was considered by Brighton as a replacement for De Zerbi, has opted to remain at Ipswich after being offered an attractive new contract following their promotion to the Premier League.
Brighton, on the other hand, are contemplating a potential return for former manager Graham Potter, who has been out of work since his dismissal by Chelsea in April 2023. With ambitions to establish themselves in the top-flight, Ipswich’s offer to McKenna reflects their desire to compete at a high level in the coming seasons.
Overall, Chelsea’s pursuit of Maresca highlights their intention to appoint a manager with a long-term vision for the club. As negotiations continue with Leicester and Maresca, the Blues are confident in their pursuit of the Italian coach as they look to build on their recent successes.
