The Enzo Maresca saga continues to unfold at breakneck speed, with Manchester City reportedly closing in on a deal that will see them appoint the Italian as their new manager. But there's a catch: Chelsea are demanding compensation, citing evidence of alleged underhand dealings by Maresca last season.
It's a complicated web of intrigue, but the basics are this: Maresca had been in talks with both Manchester City and Napoli when he resigned from Chelsea on New Year's Day. While it was previously reported that he'd informed the club about these approaches, Chelsea now claim they're owed recompense for his departure – which coincided with a dismal season that saw them finish 10th in the Premier League.
Despite the acrimony surrounding Maresca's exit, sources suggest both clubs have a good working relationship and are confident of reaching an agreement. Chelsea have form when it comes to making multi-million-pound payments to secure managerial talent: they coughed up £8m for Maresca two years ago, and another big sum in January to bring in Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea may even be weighing up the option of reporting Manchester City to the Premier League for an alleged breach – but insiders say there's no immediate plan to pursue this course. Instead, negotiations between the clubs are ongoing, with a potential settlement exceeding £10m on the table.
Maresca is reportedly itching to get started at his new club, and with 19 Manchester City players still involved in the World Cup, they've got some breathing space to finalise the deal. But one thing's for sure: this saga will be a major talking point when the Premier League season gets underway.