Maresca Set to Replace Guardiola at Man City

Manchester City are closing in on the appointment of former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as their next manager on a three-year deal, after reaching an agreement with Chelsea over compensation.

The move comes one month after Pep Guardiola announced he would leave the club following a decade in charge. Sources have indicated that the agreement to bring Maresca to the Etihad is now nearing completion, with the 46-year-old identified early as City’s preferred candidate to succeed the Spaniard.

BBC Sport reported on 8 June that negotiations between City and Chelsea had been ongoing for weeks regarding a compensation package, now believed to be well in excess of £10m. Chelsea, who believe they are entitled to compensation under the terms of Maresca’s exit, had the Italian under contract until 2029 before he left Stamford Bridge in January, and had reportedly been exploring legal options over his departure.

Despite that, City moved quickly to secure Maresca as their top target, with club officials viewing him as the ideal figure to continue the project built under Guardiola.

City declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.

The managerial transition comes at a crucial time for the Premier League champions, with pre-season preparations set to begin in mid-July. Several players not involved in international duty are expected to return for training, although uncertainty around the managerial appointment has left some squad members awaiting clarity on their futures.

Transfer activity has continued behind the scenes, with City having already had two bids rejected for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson. A third offer is expected, with the club believed to be pursuing the England international as part of their midfield rebuild, potentially in anticipation of Bernardo Silva’s departure.

The incoming manager is expected to be involved in shaping recruitment plans, even before his official unveiling.

According to City Xtra’s Freddie Pye, the delay in confirming Maresca’s appointment may not significantly disrupt preparations for the new season.

“Given the absence of any pre-season training until next month, and even those activities being restricted to non-World Cup players, perhaps Maresca and City have not lost out on anything via a delayed announcement, with the Italian likely to be in close contact over planning for the new season.

“City have a compelling and desirable sales pitch to offer players these days, irrespective of the head coach – though not overlooking the allure of Guardiola. This is a winning project for players, a clear opportunity to win immediate silverware, unrivalled facilities and perhaps join the start of an exciting new era.

“The futures of players may be a different story, as some may view the departure of Guardiola as the end of a career segment themselves, giving them little reason to remain if being part of the more successful seasons of late at the club.”