Just when it looked like Enzo Maresca’s protracted move from Leicester City to Chelsea would be announced, the silence was deafening – in both the East Midlands and West London.
According to media reports, confirmation of the deal to take the Foxes’ title-winning head coach to Stamford Bridge was due yesterday, but Friday came and went with no news.
According to our colleagues at football.london, the deal is still on coarse to go through. They say the Italian is still in talks to finalise his deal with the club ahead of the move expected to be announced in the coming days with the weekend likely to delay his official unveiling.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano adds: “Documents are being signed for Enzo Maresca to become new Chelsea manager on five year deal, with option until June 2030. Contracts being completed on manager side and also for compensation fee to Leicester City, in excess of €10m.”
So there you have it… the interminable wait goes on for City fans who would no doubt prefer closure and the new regime to be put in place at the King Power Stadium.
We will being you all the latest news on Maresca’s departure and the hunt for his replacement as it happens here…
Keith Wales
Latest next Foxes manager odds – and a pleasant surprise
Two former Chelsea managers are in the frame to replace Enzo Maresca at Leicester City once the Italian has departed for Stamford Bridge.
West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan remains the bookmakers’ favourite to take over at the King Power Stadium, but Graham Potter is now a 5/1 third favourite for the job with Sky Bet, while Maurizio Sarri comes next at 6/1.
Former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper remains second favourite, despite being linked with other top-flight clubs in recent days, while Manchester United hero Ruud van Nistelrooy has seen his odds drift over the past couple of days.
Keith Wales
Record points deduction alert
Football Finance expert Kieran Maguire has warned any new Leicester City manager of the first hurdle they are likely to face at the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes are in the midst of an extended waiting game over the departure of promotion-winning boss Enzo Maresca for Chelsea, but are likely to have candidates in mind to replace the Italian.
However, one of the major issues on Maresca’s summer agenda had he stayed put would have been a likely points deduction for City’s alleged breach of player spending rules when they were last in the Premier League.
And Maguire warns that the case is likely to be fast-tracked once Leicester are officially a top-flight club again – and that a whopping 15-point penalty could be the outcome.
Keith Wales
New snub for Foxes in manager hunt
Oh the irony. Speculation in Italy suggests Leicester City have made an approach to former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri to replace Enzo Maresca at the King Power. However, it is claimed the ex-Lazio coach is waiting for better offers.
It goes without saying that the Foxes know the value of a decent Italian coach after the relative title successes of Maresca and his compatriot Claudio Ranieri at the King Power.
Sportitalia claim the Leicester hierachy have talked to Sarri, but it seems he is in no rush to choose his next job after quitting Lazio in March. They say he has already been linked with managerial roles at Fiorentina, Bologna and Panathinaikos and is not interested in the Leicester job.
Keith Wales
Five who are alive to new start at King Power
A new manager means a fresh pair of eyes on the squad and it may mean that those out of favour under Enzo Maresca can become key players going into the Premier League once the Italian has move on to pastures new.
As such, Foxes reporter Jordan Blackwell has taken a look at five players who may have their careers at the King Power Stadium reinvigorated when there’s a new boss at the helm.
Keith Wales
Who is your choice for the new City boss?
Keith Wales
Head start in job hunt?
Oscar Garcia was already on the list of potential bosses even before L’Equipe said last night that he was under serious consideration.
And he perhaps does have a headstart in that, being manager of OH Leuven, he’s been speaking to Rudkin regularly over the past few months.
Garcia revealed last month:
“I’m happy because I can do what I love the most: coaching. Even more so with a powerful company in this project, King Power. They wanted to bring more professionalism to the club, change how it operates and above all keep the team in the top division. We have succeeded.
“King Power’s appeal was momentous. They own Leicester City. I speak with the sporting director every week. He knows that my dream is to return to England one day.”
Read more here.
Keith Wales
Five key tasks for new man
Whoever comes in to replace Maresca, they will have a job on their hands. It’s not just because of the Italian’s success, but also because of the amount of work required before the season begins in mid-August.
We’ve put together a list of the five key tasks here, which take in squad assessments, transfer meetings, tactics, player relationships, and the persistent problem of set-pieces. Is there any manager out there that who can sort all of that?
Keith Wales
Tall order for new man…
As Enzo Maresca returns from holiday to be appointed manager of Chelsea, the enormity of the task facing him has become apparent. According to the Telegraph report claiming his appointment will be confirmed today, the owners as Stamford Bridge have high hopes of their new man.
They say: “The club’s owners want to challenge for the Premier League as well as the domestic cups, the Uefa Europa League Conference, for which Chelsea have qualified, and the Fifa Club World Cup. The 2020 Champions League triumph qualified them for the new extended format of the Club World Cup in June and July next year. Ultimately, the club want to be back as a staple of the Champions League, as they were under two decades of Abramovich’s ownership.”
Tin hat time, Enzo…
Keith Wales
Enzo’s first Chelsea task…
The Express report that Enzo Maresca’s first task at Chelsea will be to resolve the club’s striker situation. Last season Chelsea’s top scorer was natural midfielder Cole Palmer (22 goals).
He was followed by the team’s focal point, Nicolas Jackson (14 goals), although the Senegal international ranked third for the division’s big chances missed having spurned 24 likely goalscoring opportunities. Therefore the incoming manager is seeking out an ‘affordable’ option to come in and hit the ground running, which is never a simple task.
To help free up funds, the Blues will also organise the permanent exits of Armando Broja and Romelu Lukaka. The two strikers have been shipped out on loan in recent times, but it may finally be time to cash in.