Explanation for Maresca’s Delay in Joining Chelsea After Initial Talks Begin
Chelsea is currently engaged in ongoing discussions with Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, but no agreement has been finalized yet, according to footballlondon. The club is keen to swiftly appoint the Italian as their next head coach.
Co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley traveled to Spain to meet Maresca, who has been identified as the prime candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino recently parted ways with Chelsea by mutual agreement after leading the team to a sixth-place finish in his first season.
Maresca became the frontrunner following extensive deliberations about potential candidates. Despite having only one full season of senior management experience—his stint at Parma lasted just 14 matches—there is optimism that he can bring success to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea aims for Maresca to sign a five-year contract, with hopes of concluding the deal by week’s end, allowing ample time for the recruitment team and Maresca to prepare for the upcoming season.
While no deal has been finalized, there are no anticipated obstacles. Chelsea is expected to compensate Leicester for Maresca, who remains under contract with the club.
Initial contact with Maresca gauged his interest in the position, and Leicester subsequently granted Chelsea permission to negotiate. Winstanley and Stewart have been persistent in their efforts to secure Chelsea’s third permanent head coach in the last 15 months.
Other candidates considered by Chelsea included Brentford’s Thomas Frank, former Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi, and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna. However, Maresca’s notable success with Leicester, including securing promotion back to the Premier League, made him stand out.
Maresca has a varied background, having served as Manuel Pellegrini’s assistant at West Ham and worked in Spain with Sevilla. He also played a key role as Pep Guardiola’s assistant during Manchester City’s treble-winning 2022/23 season before joining Leicester.
