Chelsea are advancing in talks with Enzo Maresca and held positive discussions with the Leicester manager about their vacant role over the weekend.
Maresca has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, after the latter left by mutual consent following an end-of-season review of the club’s campaign.
Maresca was appointed as Leicester manager last summer after spending time on the coaching staff at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, and impressed during his first season in charge to lead the Foxes to the Championship title.
His success in the second tier and aesthetic brand of football have made the Italian a frontrunner for Chelsea, who are keen to appoint a new head coach with prior experience of English football.
Fabrizio Romano has reported that talks with Maresca were positive over the weekend and the Italian is ‘100% keen and excited by the project’ in West London.
There are understood to be no issues regarding personal terms and Chelsea will begin negotiations with Leicester over the compensation package for the 44-year-old, whose release clause is in excess of €10m.
