City and Chelsea negotiate Maresca compensation amid Anderson bid

Manchester City and Chelsea are engaged in advanced negotiations regarding Enzo Maresca’s potential appointment as manager, a move that would see him replace Pep Guardiola. Guardiola announced his departure on 22 May following a decade in charge, and Maresca has been identified as the leading contender to succeed him. Senior figures at both clubs are currently discussing a compensation package for the 46-year-old, who left Chelsea in January while still under contract until 2029.

Chelsea are exploring legal options and expect a compensation package to be paid, although the specific amount and timeline for resolution remain unclear. The London club feels entitled to payment for the early termination of the contract, particularly as Maresca departed just six months after signing the deal. These negotiations have been complicated by claims that Chelsea became aware of City’s potential interest in Maresca as early as October and December.

Maresca’s final six months at Chelsea were characterised by a fractured relationship with the club’s ownership. Sources indicate that complaints regarding transfer policy, medical staff, and team selections contributed to the deterioration of relations. Despite these tensions, Chelsea sources state that Maresca remained popular with the majority of the dressing room, and the club’s hierarchy respected much of his work with the players.

The club believes the internal upheaval played a significant role in their subsequent drop in form, which ultimately resulted in a failure to qualify for European competition. Maresca, who previously guided Leicester to Premier League promotion and won the Club World Cup and Conference League at Stamford Bridge, is keen to take the City job. He previously served as an assistant to Guardiola during the 2022-23 Treble-winning campaign.

Separately, Manchester City are preparing another bid for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who is a top target following the departure of Bernardo Silva. City’s initial offer was recently rejected by Forest, with owner Evangelos Marinakis understood to be seeking more than the £105m Arsenal paid for Declan Rice. Anderson, currently at the World Cup, has reportedly been given permission by England manager Thomas Tuchel to finalise a transfer if it does not significantly affect team preparations.