Manchester City Close to Appointing Enzo Maresca After Compensation Agreement With Chelsea

Manchester City are close to appointing Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor after agreeing the framework of a compensation package with Chelsea, ESPN said, with Maresca potentially unveiled as early as this week at the Etihad Stadium.

ESPN said City have been forced to delay their announcement after Chelsea demanded compensation despite sacking the Italian in January, and it added that Chelsea are set to receive more than £10 million ($13m) for Maresca.

BBC

The BBC reported that City are closing in on the appointment of the 46-year-old on a three-year deal after reaching an agreement on compensation, with sources telling BBC Sport that a deal is close to being finalised.

BBC Sport said City and Chelsea had been in negotiations about a compensation package now understood to be well in excess of £10m, and it noted that Chelsea feel they are due compensation because Maresca was contracted until 2029 before he left in January.

The Independent said the sum is likely to be in excess of £10m and that Chelsea took the view that Maresca breached his contract, which ran until 2029, when he left Stamford Bridge in January.

Sky Sports framed the move as a sensible fit because of Maresca’s connections with the club, saying he is set to be the man tasked with replacing Pep Guardiola on a three-year deal.

Sky Sports quoted Brian Barry-Murphy saying, "Enzo is very similar to Pep," and it added that Barry-Murphy said Maresca was "so active and so involved in the coaching" when he returned to work as Pep’s joint-assistant.

BBC

The Independent described Chelsea’s position that Maresca breached his contract, which ran until 2029, and it said Maresca had told them in autumn that he had held talks about going to City if Guardiola were to leave.

BBC Sport reported that City declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport, while it quoted City Xtra’s Freddie Pye saying, "perhaps Maresca and City have not lost out on anything via a delayed announcement" given the absence of pre-season training until next month.

BBC Sport also said City players who are not involved in World Cup action are expected to return for pre-season in mid-July, but without Maresca in place, players potentially considering their future have remained in limbo as they are yet to meet the new boss for talks.

With the compensation obstacle nearing resolution, BBC Sport said City still offer a "compelling and desirable sales pitch" to players, even as it warned that the futures of players may be a different story after Guardiola’s departure.

“Chelsea receives £17”

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BBC Sport said transfer business has continued in the background and that City have already had two bids rejected for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with another offer expected, while it said Bernardo Silva’s departure is a factor in the club’s planning.

ESPN said City are continuing their pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and also have interest in Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, while it added that City are keen to bolster their midfield after Bernardo Silva’s departure on a free transfer and doubts over the futures of Nico González and Tijjani Reijnders.

The Independent said Guardiola announced his resignation in May after a decade in Manchester, winning the FA and Carabao Cups in his final campaign, and it described City as adjusting to life after Guardiola.

BBC Sport said without Maresca being in place, any player potentially considering their future at the club has remained in limbo as they are yet to meet the new boss for talks, even as City look to replace departing captain Bernardo Silva.