Manchester City close to financial settlement with Chelsea to appoint Enzo Maresca

Manchester City are close to reaching a financial settlement with Chelsea that will enable them to appoint Enzo Maresca as their new manager. Chelsea are demanding compensation from City to release Maresca as they believe they have evidence that the Spaniard breached his contract at Stamford Bridge by talking to the club’s Premier League rivals when he was still their manager last season. It has been widely reported that Maresca informed Chelsea he had been approached by both City and Napoli last winter in the chaotic weeks that led to his surprise resignation on New Year’s Day, a claim that has never been disputed. Chelsea are adamant they deserve to be compensated for the loss of Maresca, whose departure destabilised a season that ended with them finishing 10th in the Premier League and missing out on European qualification, but they have a good relationship with City and have confidence an amicable agreement can be reached. The club paid Leicester £8m in compensation to secure the release of Maresca as manager two years ago, and in January made another multi-million pound payment to sister club Strasbourg to bring in Liam Rosenior as the Italian’s replacement. Chelsea sources have indicated they have sufficient evidence to report City to the Premier League for making an illegal approach to Maresca, but have no plans to do so and are continuing to negotiate with them. …