Chelsea co-owner, US businessman Todd Boehly FILE - Chelsea co-owner, US businessman Todd Boehly. Photo: Glyn Kirk/AFP
London-based Premier League club Chelsea have reportedly agreed to make Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca their new manager.
This was according to reputable football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who said the Italian will sign a five-year deal with Chelsea, with the option of a further year.
🚨![CDATA[]]>🔵 Chelsea have agreed to appoint Enzo Maresca as new head coach, here we go!
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 28, 2024
❗️ Understand the agreement is now done on contract valid until June 2029, five year deal.
It will also include an option to extend until June 2030.#CFC, set to pay compensation fee to Leicester. pic.twitter.com/o8CsGF9Jcx
Chelsea have been on the search for a new manager ever since they surprisingly parted ways with Argentine Mauricio Pochettino following a difficult Premier League season that saw them finish in sixth place.
After struggling throughout the campaign, it was thought the way Chelsea finished would have persuaded club bosses to stick with Pochettino, but they decided otherwise and pulled the plug after just one season.
After they were humiliated by Arsenal, who beat them 5-0 towards the end of April, the Blues rebounded brilliantly and won five of their last six games. Their only dropped points after the Arsenal loss came in a 2-all draw against Aston Villa.
Replacing Pochettino as Chelsea boss will be Italian Maresca, who played for the like of West Bromwich Albion, Juventus and Sevilla among others in a journeyman career.
After calling time on his playing career, he embarked on a coaching career that took him from Manchester City to Parma, and then eventually to Leicester City.
He was in charge of the Foxes when they won the Championship title last season, which saw them return to the Premier League.
Maresca’s work at Leicester was so impressive, it’s reported a number of top clubs, including Manchester United, whose Erik ten Hag is due to be grilled by the board after a difficult season that ended with an FA Cup triumph.
IOL Sport
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