By Milcah Tanimu
Chelsea Football Club appears to be on the verge of securing Enzo Maresca as their new coach, according to recent reports.
Transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano has indicated that Chelsea and Maresca are nearing an agreement on contract terms. Maresca, who recently guided Leicester City, led by Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, to victory in the EFL Championship, is reportedly the preferred candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.
While Chelsea considers its options for Pochettino’s replacement, including Roberto De Zerbi, Kieran McKenna, and Thomas Frank, Maresca seems to be leading the race. The 44-year-old Italian manager is said to have a release clause of approximately 10 million euros, which Chelsea seems undeterred by.
Romano further clarified that negotiations are in their final stages, with details regarding a two-year deal with an option for an additional season or a three-year deal being ironed out. He confirmed that Maresca has already expressed his consent to the Chelsea project, leaving only the compensation agreement between the clubs pending.
Maresca’s potential appointment is viewed as a strategic move by Chelsea to nurture the considerable talents they have acquired in recent years and propel the club back into the Champions League.
While Maresca has been linked with the managerial position at Manchester United in case of Erik ten Hag’s departure, Chelsea’s interest appears to be more concrete and advanced.
During Maresca’s tenure at Leicester City, Ndidi made 36 appearances, while Iheanacho featured in 26 games, indicating a successful stint under his leadership.
The developments suggest that Chelsea is swiftly moving forward with their managerial plans, signaling an exciting new chapter for the club under Maresca’s potential leadership.