Chelsea have received permission to speak to Enzo Maresca and are expected to approve a contract

Leicester City have given Chelsea official permission to talk to Enzo Maresca about becoming the team’s next coach.

Chelsea made official contact with Leicester earlier on Monday after identifying the Italian as a leading candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

They are now ready to hold discussions with the 44-year-old and are expected to agree a contract spanning at least five years.

Leicester will receive compensation for the impending move, which is expected to be completed this week.

Maresca joined Leicester ahead of the start of the 2023-24 season but got them back into the Premier League – as Championship winners – at the first attempt.

Kieran McKenna was considered as an option after he led Ipswich Town to promotion behind Leicester City, while Thomas Frank’s work at Brentford also saw him being considered.

Chelsea began its search for a new coach after the club and Pochettino agreed to part ways last week after reviewing the team’s performance.

The process of identifying Pochettino’s replacement was led by co-sporting directors Lawrence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, and saw them settle on former Manchester City assistant Maresca as their preferred option.

He worked under Pep Guardiola and was part of the team’s coaching staff during the 2022-23 treble season, while also working alongside Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham United in 2018 before a short spell with Parma in Serie B at the start of the season. Season 2021-22.

If all goes as planned, Maresca will become the sixth head coach since Todd Buhle and Clearlake Capital acquired the club in 2022.

Thomas Tuchel was sacked by the new ownership in September that year before Graham Potter was relieved of his duties in April 2023.

Bruno Saltor and then Frank Lampard took temporary charge before Pochettino was appointed in July last year.

The Argentine coach left the club last week after leading them to sixth place in the Premier League and a place in the European Conference League.

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Chelsea fans, this is Enzo Maresca – the main candidate to replace Pochettino

(Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)