Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Chelsea 'make official approach for preferred managerial target'

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 May 2024, 12:08
Chelsea have reportedly made an official approach to the team of their preferred candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino.

Last Tuesday, the Blues revealed that a mutual decision had been taken for the Argentine to depart his role of head coach.

Since then, a number of names have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital attempt to find the ideal candidate to fit into their club structure.

A report has indicated that Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been ruled out of contention, the list seemingly having been whittled down to three names.

However, on Monday lunchtime, it was alleged that Chelsea are pressing ahead with a move for a head coach that has emerged as their first-choice option.

Chelsea make approach for Maresca

According to a report in The Telegraph, Chelsea made an official approach to Leicester City on Monday in an attempt to secure the services of Enzo Maresca.

The West Londoners are said to have requested official permission to hold negotiations with the Foxes boss as soon as possible.

Should Chelsea wish to push through with a deal, Leicester will demand that a £10m release clause that is present in Maresca's contract be paid in full.

As per the report, it is suggested that a move to Stamford Bridge for Maresca is now increasingly likely to materialise, with the likes of Brentford's Thomas Frank and former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi seemingly missing out.

What would Maresca offer to Chelsea?

Boehly and co are allegedly attracted by the possession-based football that Maresca has introduced during his time at the King Power Stadium.

During a campaign in which Leicester won the Championship title, they had over 62% of possession and made over 28,000 passes in their 46 fixtures.

Furthermore, the 44-year-old has spent time on the coaching staff of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, much like Mikel Arteta who has since gone on to transform Arsenal despite his previous lack of managerial experience.

Maresca is no stranger to Stamford Bridge having taking his Leicester side to the capital for an FA Cup quarter-final in March, the East Midlands outfit having been level at 2-2 before a sending off contributed to a 4-2 defeat.

With Maresca seemingly in favour of making the switch from newly-promoted Leicester to Chelsea, an appointment could be in place in a matter of days.

Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women have been left with a mountain to climb in the Women's Champions League owing to a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted he expects to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Morgan Gibbs-White has revealed his reaction to receiving a late England call-up from Thomas Tuchel. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jeremie Frimpong has fuelled speculation over a summer move to Liverpool by greeting Ryan Gravenberch in a scouse accent. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has seen three players withdraw from his squad due to injury ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Netherlands at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has named his 24-man squad ahead of Thursday's UEFA Nations League quarter-final first-leg clash with Spain at De Kuip in Rotterdam. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk UEFA Nations League holders Spain travel to De Kuip in Rotterdam to face the Netherlands in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr are plotting a stunning move to sign Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A trio of England under-21 players joined Thomas Tuchel's training session on Tuesday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have confirmed that Cole Palmer has returned from the England squad to undergo further assessment on the injury he sustained before Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Continuing their quest for a first UEFA Nations League crown, Italy will welcome familiar foes Germany to San Siro on Thursday evening, as the pair play out the first leg of an enticing quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal fans may have to wait until next season to see the best of Bukayo Saka ahead of his imminent return from hamstring surgery, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta injury was so severe his plastic surgeon refused to show him pictures of his ear. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has suggested that Darwin Nunez could still have a future at Anfield, but not as Arne Slot's starting number nine. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Armenia host neighbours Georgia in Yerevan on Thursday evening, as the two nations fight for the right to play in league B of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are ready to consider offers for striker Darwin Nunez, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Austria host Serbia on Thursday evening, looking to gain an advantage in their two-legged playoff for the right to play in Group A of the UEFA Nations League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a place in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals, European heavyweights Italy and Germany will convene at San Siro on Thursday, for the first leg of their quarter-final tie. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Troy Deeney has reiterated his belief that Mohamed Salah is 'not world class' after his Wembley woes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle teammate. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will clash on Thursday as leaders Japan face Bahrain. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Danny Drinkwater was once given just an hour to leave Chelsea and led to a bust-up with the manager.
Something went wrong! Don't hesitate to let us know if you need any help.