News Focus
- Manchester City are negotiating with Chelsea over compensation for Enzo Maresca
- The Italian manager left Stamford Bridge in January but had a contract until 2029
- Maresca previously worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium
- City have also had a bid rejected for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson
- The club are searching for replacements following Bernardo Silva’s departure
Manchester City are holding advanced talks with Chelsea about bringing Enzo Maresca back to the club as their new manager. The Premier League champions want the Italian to replace Pep Guardiola, who announced he will leave the Etihad Stadium on 22 May after ten successful years.
Discussions between the two clubs are now at a crucial stage. Senior officials are working to agree on a compensation package for the 46-year-old coach. Maresca signed a contract with Chelsea until 2029, but he left the London club just six months ago in January. The Blues believe they are legally entitled to receive payment because of the remaining time on his deal.
The former Juventus and West Bromwich Albion midfielder enjoyed a strong connection with Manchester City before. He served as Guardiola’s assistant during the historic Treble-winning season in 2022-23. He also played an important role in developing young players at the club’s academy. In 2023, he moved to Leicester City and guided them to promotion to the Premier League in his first season.
Maresca’s time at Chelsea brought mixed results. He won the Club World Cup and the Conference League during his stay. However, his relationship with the club’s owners became damaged in his final months. Sources at Stamford Bridge say there were disagreements about transfer policy, medical staff, and team selection. The club’s performance dropped after he left, and they failed to qualify for European competitions this season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have started their summer recruitment. The club made an opening offer for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson last week, but Forest rejected the bid. The 23-year-old England international is a top target for City as they look to strengthen their midfield following the exit of club captain Bernardo Silva. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis wants a fee higher than the £105 million Arsenal paid for Declan Rice in 2023. Anderson is currently playing at the World Cup, but England manager Thomas Tuchel has said players can complete transfer deals if it does not disturb the team’s preparations. Reports suggest Anderson prefers a move to Manchester City rather than their local rivals Manchester United.