Manchester City are on the verge of announcing Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successor after finalising a compensation framework with Chelsea, sources tell ESPN. The club could reveal the hire this week, with talks reportedly nearing completion. City had postponed the announcement when Chelsea insisted on a payment despite having dismissed the Italian in January.

Chelsea signed Maresca on a five‑year contract in June 2024, but dismissed him after just seven months. City now face a fee that tops £10 million, the sum Chelsea will collect to release the Italian. Maresca’s résumé includes heading City’s Elite Development Squad in 2020 and assisting Guardiola between 2022 and 2023, giving him intimate knowledge of the club’s philosophy.

The appointment ends a decade of Guardiola’s reign and comes as City scramble to replace departing midfield talisman Bernardo Silva and resolve uncertainty around Nico González and Tijjani Reijnders. Parallel rumours link the club with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali. Naming Maresca now gives City a clear tactical direction ahead of the 2026‑27 campaign.

With the managerial vacancy settled, City can sharpen their summer agenda. The club has already flagged interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and Tottenham‑targeted Newcastle playmaker Sandro Tonali, moves aimed at filling the void left by Silva’s free‑transfer exit. Confirming Maresca now allows the coaching staff to shape recruitment around his preferred system before pre‑season begins.