It's widely understood Enzo Maresca will be the man to replace Pep Guardiola, but there are still negotiations ongoing between Manchester City and Chelsea
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea walks on the pitch after the Premier League match between Chelsea and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on December 30, 2025 in London, England
Enzo Maresca is expected to be the man to replace Pep Guardiola(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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Chelsea are currently engaged in compensation negotiations with Manchester City, as the Cityzens look to bring Enzo Maresca to the Etihad. Lawyers representing both clubs are locked in ongoing discussions.
The talks centre on Maresca's departure in January, when he left Stamford Bridge with three-and-a-half years still remaining on his contract. City are keen to reach an agreement before the end of the week.
Last autumn, Maresca informed Chelsea's hierarchy that he had entered into discussions with City regarding the possibility of succeeding Pep Guardiola. At that point, Guardiola remained in charge at City and had yet to announce when he intended to leave.
Maresca was ultimately dismissed by Chelsea on New Year's Day after a home draw with Bournemouth left the west Londoners with just one victory from seven Premier League outings.
Moving to the present day, City are confident a deal for the former Leicester City boss can still be concluded, reports Football London. Ongoing talks are focused on the timing of his appointment, his coaching staff and various finer details.
Nearly a year after first alerting Chelsea to his conversations with City, Maresca appears poised to take over Guardiola's mantle. It will represent a full circle moment for the Italian, who served as the Catalan's assistant when City claimed the treble during the 2022-23 season.
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts as Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea (obscured), gives the team instructions during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on January 25, 2025 in Manchester, England
Negotiations between Chelsea and City are still ongoing(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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During his final season at the helm of the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola defeated Arsenal to secure the League Cup and triumphed over Chelsea in the FA Cup final, while finishing seven points adrift of the Gunners in the Premier League.
If a deal goes through, Maresca will arrive at City as a Europa Conference League victor and World Club Cup winner. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson recently told Sky Sports he believes Maresca is the perfect candidate to succeed Guardiola.
He said: "I liked him at Chelsea. I thought he was a good manager. He's going into Man City, he's been there before, he's worked in the Premier League before. He knows some of the players at City.
Manchester City's Spanish assistant manager Carlos Vicens, Manchester City's Italian assistant manager Enzo Maresca, Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola and Manchester City's Spanish assistant manager Rodolfo Borrell attend a training session on September 13, 2022 at the Manchester City training ground in Manchester on the eve of the UEFA Champions League group G football match between England's Manchester City and Germany's Borussia Dortmund
Maresca was one of Guardiola's right-hand men in the Treble winning campaign(Image: AFP or licensors)
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"I think he ticks every box. He's not coming in trying to get used to the place, he's not coming into a league that he's never been in. I think he'll go in and settle quite nicely.
"They'll need a few players as well. But this is the problem: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea all need players.
"There's not that many players around. Who's going to be able to produce and give the most money to these players?"