CHELSEA have held talks with Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca as they step up their search for a new manager.
Maresca is one of three leading candidates for the role, alongside Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna and Brentford‘s Thomas Frank.
There is no clear favourite between the trio at this stage – but Maresca was encouraged by the early talks.
The Italian, who moved to the King Power from Manchester City‘s coaching staff, has a £10million release clause in his deal.
Chelsea are yet to discuss the fine details of a contract with the 44-year-old, though it is thought he would get a longer deal than Mauricio Pochettino‘s contract of two years with an option.
Maresca won the Championship with the Foxes last season and has previously had a short stint as manager of Parma as well as working as a coach at West Ham.
Pochettino left the club on Tuesday by mutual consent following an end-of-season review with the owners and sporting directors.
The Blues are keen to have a new manager in place by the end of next week in what will be a third permanent managerial appointment for the club’s American owners.
Meet Pep Guardiola disciple Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca is considered among the most exciting young coaches on the planet.
Born in Italy in 1980, he managed to guide Leicester to the Championship title in his first season as Foxes boss.
His management career started at Italian minnows Ascoli before he was snapped up by Man City in 2020 to manage their Elite Development Squad.
He guided the youth team to the Premier League 2 title in his one season working for the Citizens – with Cole Palmer in the side.
His first senior job was with Parma but he was sacked after just a few months after failing to impress.
Despite the team playing in Serie B and Maresca having an impressive squad he was unable to get them on course for promotion.
He returned to Man City and worked as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants for the 2022/23 season as they won the Treble.
He took over relegated Leicester last summer and made an immediate impact, with the Foxes winning the Championship title.
Maresca showed his dedication to the job by living at the training ground for the first two months after his appointment.
He’s considered something of a Pep disciple and has said: “For a coach, it’s important to have the mentality of a chess player.”
During his playing career he played under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi – and alongside ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi.
They would face fierce competition to appoint Ipswich’s McKenna, who is also liked by Brighton and Manchester United after winning back-to-back promotions with the Tractor Boys.
Frank has been overlooked for big jobs in the past but has been an incredible success at Brentford since replacing Dean Smith in the Championship six years ago.
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The Dane, 50, has been open about moving on in the past but recently said that he expected to be in charge at the Gtech Community Stadium for the start of next season.
He told The Athletic: “I will probably be on that touchline on August 17.
“I think that will happen. I’m happy here. I’ve said it many times and I mean it.
“I’m very aware the grass is not greener in the garden next door even if it looks like it.
“Then you get in there, take a closer look and see there are a lot of weeds in the grass.”