Manchester City are on the verge of appointing Enzo Maresca as their new manager, with a three-year deal close to being finalised after compensation talks with Chelsea reached a conclusion.
Sources have told BBC Sport that an agreement on compensation is now in place, understood to be well in excess of £10m, removing the final major obstacle to the appointment.
The move comes just one month after Pep Guardiola announced he would be leaving City following a decade at the helm of the club.
Maresca, 46, was swiftly identified by City as their only managerial candidate and the man tasked with succeeding the most successful coach in the club’s history.
Chelsea had been exploring their legal options over the departure of the Italian, who was contracted to the club until 2029 before he left in January of this year.
The Blues argued they were owed compensation under the terms of Maresca’s departure, and those negotiations have now concluded with a package reportedly well beyond the £10m mark.
City players not involved in the 2026 World Cup are expected to return for pre-season training in mid-July, though the delayed announcement has left some players in limbo regarding their futures.
Transfer activity has continued behind the scenes, however, with City already having two bids rejected for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, and another offer expected to follow.
The chase for the England international is seen as a direct response to the departure of club captain Bernardo Silva, and the pursuit is expected to continue with Maresca’s backing.
City Xtra’s Freddie Pye told BBC Sport: “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.”
Pye also pointed to the ongoing appeal of the club as a destination for top players, saying: “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 joining the start of an exciting new era.”
There are concerns, however, that some players may view Guardiola’s exit as a natural break point in their own careers, with Pye adding: “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.”
Manchester City declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.
