Chelsea agree with Maresca to be the new coach

Chelsea Football Club’s hunt for Mauricio Pochetino’s replacement has come to an end as they have reached an agreement with Leicester City Manager, Enzo Maresca with the contract set to run until 2029.

After Chelsea approached Leicester City, a formal permission was granted to the Blues to speak with Enzo Maresca about becoming their next head coach.

Chelsea made an official approach to Leicester earlier on Monday after identifying the Italian as a leading candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

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They are now set for discussions with the 44-year-old and are expected to agree a contract spanning a minimum of five years.

The intention to hand the 44-year-old a long-term deal is a contrast to the contract handed to Pochettino last summer. ­Pochettino, who left by mutual consent last week, signed a two-year deal with the option of an extra year.

But Chelsea are determined to back Maresca, who is prepared to leave Leicester after ending his first season at the club by leading them back into the Premier League. The process has been led by the ­sporting ­directors, Paul Winstanley and ­Laurence ­Stewart.

Chelsea will still need to agree compensation with ­Leicester, who will want around £10m to release their manager. Sources close to Maresca have also stressed the ­Italian has not been in a rush to leave the east Midlands club and could decide to stay if he has any late reservations about moving to west London.

Chelsea met representatives of Frank last week and had been speaking to McKenna’s agents for several weeks. McKenna was seen by Brighton as a replacement for De Zerbi but the 38-year-old has decided to stay at Ipswich. After promotion to the top flight, Ipswich have displayed their ambition to stay up by offering ­McKenna a contract that will make him one of the highest-paid managers in England. Brighton are considering ­switching focus to a return for Graham Potter, their former mana­ger who has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in April 2023.