Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca has reportedly become the leading candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.
According to a report by The Sun, Enzo Maresca is the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues are scouring the market for a manager after parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino. And the 44-year-old Leicester City head coach has become the top target to replace the Argentine tactician at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca has seen his stock soar after guiding Leicester City back to the Premier League this season. The Foxes took a chance by appointing him as their manager ahead of the 2023/24 season, considering that was only his second job as a first-team manager. However, the Italian tactician has proven his naysayers wrong.
A midfielder during his playing career, Maresca was a journeyman and never found a stable and long stint at any club. However, he represented many well-known bigwigs like Juventus and Sevilla. The 44-year-old entered the coaching sphere nearly half a decade ago, becoming the manager of the Elite Development Squad at Manchester City.
Maresca’s first job at the first-team level came with Parma, although it was not a long spell. He returned to Manchester City as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistant managers before joining Leicester City last year. Meanwhile, Maresca’s success at the King Power Stadium has captured the attention of several high-profile clubs, including Chelsea.
Chelsea’s interest in Enzo Maresca has grown after Mauricio Pochettino’s shock departure this week. The Argentine tactician did a decent job to take his team to a sixth-placed finish after struggling for much of the 2023/24 campaign. However, differences over transfer strategy ended Pochettino’s short spell at Chelsea.
The Blues have identified several candidates to replace Pochettino, with Jorge Mendes recommending Sergio Conceicao to the club. However, Maresca is also a target for Chelsea, with the West London club identifying him as the top option to fill the vacancy.
With Chelsea identifying Maresca as the leading candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino, talks over a deal should be on the cards. Meanwhile, they can swoop the 44-year-old Italian tactician away from Leicester City by shelling out £8.5 million.
