Manchester City and Chelsea in Advanced Talks Over Compensation for Maresca to Become City's Manager

Manchester City and Chelsea remain in negotiations over Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager. Guardiola announced on 22 May that he would step down after a decade in charge. Maresca was quickly identified as the leading candidate.

Talks have reached an advanced stage. Senior figures at both clubs are discussing a compensation package. Maresca, 46, won the Club World Cup and Conference League while at Chelsea. He left the club in January and was contracted until 2029.

Chelsea feel they are due compensation under the terms of his departure. The club have been exploring legal options and expect a package to be paid. Maresca served as an assistant to Guardiola during Manchester City's Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign.

He also played a key role in the club's academy before joining the first team. He left Manchester City in 2023 to manage Leicester and guided the club to promotion to the Premier League in his only season there. Maresca's final six months at Chelsea were marked by a fractured relationship with the club's ownership.

Chelsea became aware of City's potential interest in October and December. Chelsea sources claim they were aware of complaints from Maresca about the transfer policy at Stamford Bridge. The relationship deteriorated further over issues including medical staff and team selections.

Chelsea sources say the hierarchy still respected much of Maresca's work with the players. He remained popular with the majority of the dressing room. The club feel the upheaval played a major role in the drop in form after his exit, which left them outside European qualification.

City last week had an opening bid for midfielder Elliot Anderson rejected by Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old England international tops City's list of midfield targets following the departure of captain Bernardo Silva. Sources say City are expected to make another bid.

The club have long admired Anderson and will not be swayed from paying a significant fee that could become a record for a British player. Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is known to be a tough negotiator. He is understood to want more than the £105m Arsenal paid to sign midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham in 2023.

Anderson is currently at the World Cup. England boss Thomas Tuchel has said squad members will have permission to finalise transfers provided it does not affect the team's preparations. BBC Sport has previously reported that Anderson is leaning towards a move to City over rivals Manchester United.