Manchester City close to financial settlement with Chelsea to appoint Enzo Maresca

Manchester City are close to a financial settlement with Chelsea to appoint Enzo Maresca as manager. Chelsea allege Maresca breached his Stamford Bridge contract by speaking to rivals while still at Chelsea last season, and expect compensation to release him. City are reported to offer more than £10 million as part of the deal. Chelsea previously paid Leicester £8 million to release Maresca two years ago and contributed to Strasbourg’s recruitment of Liam Rosenior as his interim replacement in January, reflecting the unsettled backdrop to Maresca’s departure.

With 19 City players at the World Cup, pre-season training begins mid-next month, giving time to finalise terms. Maresca is keen to start work as soon as possible, and both clubs have described negotiations as constructive, though Chelsea have flirted with a separate claim that is likely to be dropped if the settlement holds. Neither side has commented publicly, and the precise details remain under discussion as talks continue.