Manchester City are close to reaching a financial settlement with Chelsea that would allow them to appoint Enzo Maresca as manager, according to The Guardian, keeping a Premier League coaching move tied to club-to-club compensation rather than a simple announcement.
The report said Chelsea are seeking compensation because they believe Maresca breached his Stamford Bridge contract by speaking to City while he was still Chelsea manager last season. Chelsea and Manchester City both declined to comment.
Chelsea Seek Compensation Over Maresca Exit
The Guardian reported that Maresca told Chelsea last winter he had been approached by City and Napoli during the weeks before his surprise resignation on New Year's Day. The claim has not been disputed, according to the report.
Chelsea are said to believe they have enough evidence to report City to the Premier League over an alleged illegal approach, but the club are continuing talks and do not currently plan to make that complaint. The same report said a separate legal claim against Maresca is likely to be dropped if the clubs reach a settlement.
The compensation figure is expected to be worth more than GBP10 million to Chelsea. The context matters: Chelsea paid Leicester GBP8 million to bring Maresca to Stamford Bridge two years ago, then made another multimillion-pound payment to Strasbourg in January to hire Liam Rosenior as his replacement.
City Want Manager In Before Pre-Season
For City, the timing is the practical pressure point. The Guardian said the club do not return for pre-season training until the middle of next month because 19 players are away at the World Cup, but Maresca is eager to begin work as soon as possible.
The talks also close a messy chapter for Chelsea. Maresca's mid-season exit disrupted a campaign that ended with a 10th-place Premier League finish and no European qualification, according to The Guardian's account of the dispute.
No appointment has been announced by City and no settlement has been confirmed by either club. The current verified point is narrower: negotiations are continuing, Chelsea are pushing for compensation, and a payment above GBP10 million is viewed as the likely route to clearing Maresca's move.