Enzo Maresca has agreed phrases on a five-year cope with Chelsea to turn into their new head coach.
The 44-year-old, who will succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, will transfer from Leicester after main them again to the Premier League by successful the Championship.
It’s understood work on his contract is being finalised by attorneys and an announcement may very well be made earlier than the weekend.
Chelsea co-sporting administrators Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart had travelled to Marbella for face-to-face talks with Maresca after Leicester gave permission for discussions to start.
The Italian’s launch clause on the King Energy Stadium is known to have be between £8m and £10m.
Chelsea had been impressed by the depth and breadth of Maresca’s data about their squad in talks along with his representatives, in addition to his concentrate on the way in which Chelsea wish to play and his need for the job.
The 44-year-old’s obsession with possession and positional play made him the main candidate to interchange Mauricio Pochettino, who left by mutual consent.
Senior Chelsea figures consider the brand new head coach would be the remaining piece of the jigsaw to suit into the brand new trendy construction they’ve constructed on the membership.
The west London membership count on to be busy within the switch market this summer season with gamers coming and going. Buying and selling is prone to see the signing of a brand new No 9 and centre-back, whereas the futures of high-earners reminiscent of Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga have to be resolved.
‘Chelsea really feel Maresca is the one for them’
Sky Sports activities Information chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
“Chelsea have had a very thorough process with Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank and Roberto De Zerbi all considered, but they feel Maresca is the one for them.
“The others had been all very spectacular candidates, however Chelsea really feel at this second in time that Maresca is the person for them, and he shares their imaginative and prescient for the long run.
“He’s only been a manager for one-and-a-half seasons. He was a manager at Parma in the Italian second division and then he got the Leicester job.
“There have been some points behind the scenes and never all Leicester followers have been fully proud of him though he obtained them promotion again to the Premier League.
“There have been issues about recruitment and issues round the truth that Leicester have been charged for allegedly breaking PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Guidelines) they usually’re additionally beneath a switch embargo from the EFL.
“There have been issues, but Chelsea just want a head coach. They want somebody who is going to coach the first-team squad and deal with the media. Everything else, they feel they have in place.
“You need to keep in mind that Mikel Arteta did not have any prior expertise of getting managed within the Premier League earlier than becoming a member of Arsenal, however he had labored beneath Pep Guardiola which is strictly the identical as Maresca.
“I’m not saying he’s a better manager than Arteta, but he has more experience than he did when he took over at Arsenal.
“Do not underestimate the Pep impact. For those who’ve labored beneath Guardiola, you’ve got obtained a head-start when going for these types of jobs, nonetheless you continue to need to impress, which Maresca has carried out throughout these talks.
“I’ve been told that his knowledge of the Chelsea squad, including the youth team players is encyclopaedic.”
