Leicester City has paved way for Chelsea to open contract talks with their coach Enzo Maresca who has been tipped to replace Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart will meet Maresca in Marbella, Spain for face-to-face talks to conclude contract terms. Maresca is seen by Chelsea as a coach who could fit into their plans to become competitive again in the Premier League.
The Blues have been impressed by the depth and breadth of the Italian’s knowledge about their squad in talks with his representatives, and are impressed by his single-minded focus on the way Chelsea want to play and his desire for the job.
Maresca could be announced as Chelsea’s new coach before the week runs out and have ready a compensation fee of around £10m for Leicester City.
The 44-year-old Maresca who guided Leicester back into the Premier League has worked with Pep Guardiola last season when Manchester City won a treble. He has also worked with legendary coaches like Carlo Ancelotti, Marcelo Lippi and Manuel Pellegroni.
“It helps a lot having worked with the kinds of people [I have worked with]. You learn things and at the end you create your own idea as a manager and as a person,” said the coach in an interview with Sky sports.
