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Chelsea have approached Leicester City for permission to speak to manager Enzo Maresca, sources have told ESPN, after identifying the Italian as the favorite to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca, 44, guided Leicester back to the Premier League as Championship winners in his first campaign this term, and his success has prompted Chelsea’s owners to make a formal move to recruit Pep Guardiola’s former assistant to Manchester City.
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Former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbe and Brentford boss Thomas Frank are also being considered to replace Pochettino, who left Chelsea by mutual consent after leading the team to sixth place in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup final in one season.
Maresca is seen as a coach who favors possession-based play and has a proven track record of giving opportunities to emerging youngsters. Cole Palmer and Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia both worked with Maresca during their time together at City.
Sources have told ESPN that Leicester would expect £9 million ($11.5 million) in compensation for Maresca if they allow their highly-rated coach to speak to Chelsea this week.
Maresca had a short spell as head coach of Serie B club Parma during the 2021-22 season having previously managed City’s reserve team to the Premier League 2 title.
As a player, he won the Italian League with Juventus in 2002 as well as two UEFA Cups and a Copa del Rey with Sevilla.
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