Enzo Maresca is Chelsea’s No.1 target! Blues line up talks that could see Pep Guardiola’s former Man City assistant leave Leicester for Stamford Bridge

The Premier League heavyweights are in the market for a new coach after severing ties with Mauricio Pochettino. The Blues are looking at younger tacticians, with attention turned towards those that have just savoured promotion out of the Championship.

Talks were held with Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, but he is now said to be out of the running. Thomas Frank of Brentford is another option that Chelsea are supposedly willing to consider, with the Dane potentially being lured across west London.

The Telegraph is, however, reporting that Maresca has leapt to the front of the queue. The Italian, who has previously worked as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, guided Leicester to the Championship title in 2023-24.

Chelsea are said to have formally requested permission to approach Maresca, having been left impressed by initial discussions, and a deal could soon be pushed through that sees the 44-year-old take on the challenge on delivering on expectations for big-spending owners at the Bridge.