Chelsea have reportedly identified their No.1 candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino as manager.
Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea on Tuesday by mutual consent, the club confirmed.
After finishing 12th in the Premier League last season, the Argentine got the team all the way up to sixth.
That is enough for a Europa League place should Manchester United lose in the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday.
However, Pochettino and Chelsea still decided that it would be best if they parted ways. Chelsea are now looking for a new manager, with several names being mentioned.
Chelsea’s main candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino
One of those names being mentioned is Enzo Maresca from Leicester City.
In fact, according to the website of journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Italian is actually the main candidate to succeed Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
The report on Di Marzio’s site claims that Maresca has convinced Chelsea with his style of play.
Still early into his managerial career, though, the 44-year-old would represent a bit of a risk for Chelsea.
What other reasons do Chelsea have for hiring Enzo Maresca?
It is not just his playing style that will appeal to Chelsea. Maresca has obviously just had a very good season in the Championship.
He guided Leicester back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, helping them to win promotion this term.
That should not be enough to make Maresca the leading candidate for the Chelsea job.
However, it looks like the Foxes boss has actually done enough to catch the attention of the bosses at Stamford Bridge.
When you look at some of the names that Chelsea are being linked with, like Maresca, you cannot help but feel that the club should have done more to keep hold of Pochettino. But it is clear that the Blues want to go down the route of Maresca, who has been hailed as “incredible” by Harry Winks, or another young manager making an impact in his division.