Chelsea are due to receive a significant financial settlement from Manchester City as they close in on appointing Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s replacement.
It has been an open secret that Maresca will become City’s new manager, even since before Guardiola announced he was leaving the Etihad in May.
The Italian left Chelsea on New Year’s Day just months after winning the Club World Cup and the Conference League in his first season.
All seemed to be going well at Stamford Bridge until a sudden and dramatic falling out with the club’s hierarchy during his final month in charge, in which he won just one of seven league games.
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It has since been widely reported that during this time, City, as well as Napoli, approached Maresca and held talks with him.
The 46-year-old previously had spells at the Etihad, first as a youth coach before a season as Guardiola’s assistant.
According to The Guardian, Chelsea believe they have evidence the approach was illegal and moreover that Maresca breached his contract by engaging in talks while still their manager.
The Blues have considered reporting the Citizens to the Premier League and threatening legal action, but are now negotiating with their rivals over a compensation package.
A settlement is close to being agreed, but Chelsea are fighting hard for every penny, with Todd Boehly and co. convinced the whole saga contributed to the club’s terrible season.
When Maresca left, Chelsea were fifth in the table but under replacement Liam Rosenior they slumped to 10th, missing out on European qualification for the second time in four seasons.
Rosenior lasted just 106 days in charge as his team crashed out of Champions League and Carabao Cup, before losing the FA Cup final to City.
As a result, it is said that City will likely pay Chelsea over £10million in compensation, only £2m more than what the Blues paid Leicester City to sign Maresca in 2024.
Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso as Rosenior’s successor. His first game in charge will be a west London derby away to Fulham on August 24.
Maresca has an unenviable task ahead of him, following in the footsteps of Guardiola who won 16 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, in a decade.
His first match is set to be against Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 16, before City kick-off their Premier League campaign at the Etihad against Bournemouth.
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