ESPN has been informed that Chelsea has requested permission to speak with Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca. This decision was made after the Italian was identified as the preferred candidate to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca, 44, led Leicester to promotion back to the Premier League as the Championship winners in his inaugural season in command this season. His success has prompted Chelsea’s owners to formally pursue the hiring of Pep Guardiola’s former assistant at Manchester City.
Former Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank are also being considered as potential replacements for Pochettino, who departed Chelsea by mutual consent after leading the team to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup final during his one-year tenure.
Maresca is recognized as a coach who prioritizes a possession-based game and has provided opportunities to emerging youth players. Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia, both of Chelsea, collaborated with Maresca during their tenure at City.
Sources have told ESPN that Leicester will expect compensation of around £9 million ($11.5m) for Maresca if they allow their highly-rated coach to speak to Chelsea this week.
Maresca had a short spell as head coach of Italian club Parma in Serie B during the 2021-22 season having previously managed City’s reserve team to the Premier League 2 title.
As a player, he won Serie A with Juventus in 2002 as well as two UEFA Cups and a Copa del Rey with Sevilla.
Xavi eyed Lewandowski, Félix exits at Barcelona – sources
Xavi Hernández wanted to move on Robert Lewandowski, João Félix, João Cancelo and Vitor Roque if he stayed on as Barcelona coach, sources have told ESPN.
Xavi was sacked by Barça last week and took charge of his final game on Sunday, a 2-1 win over Sevilla as the Catalan side ended the season second in LaLiga and trophy-less.
However, sources have told ESPN that, prior to his dismissal, he had radical plans to overhaul the squad this summer, especially in attack.
The coach wanted to freshen things up by getting rid of top goal scorer Lewandowski, loanees Félix and Cancelo and January signing Roque.
Lewandowski, 35, still has two years to run on a four-year contract, although the final year is dependent on him playing a certain number of games next season.
The Poland striker, who has scored 59 goals in 95 appearances since signing from Bayern Munich in 2022, spoke last week of his desire to remain at the Catalan club.
He shares representation with German coach Hansi Flick, who sources have told ESPN will be Xavi’s successor, in the form of Pini Zahavi, who is one of several agents who have a considerable influence at Barça.
Flick also worked with Lewandowski when he was Bayern coach, with the Bundesliga club winning the treble in 2019-20.
Jorge Mendes is another agent with sway at Barça and his clients, Félix and Cancelo, have both spent this season on loan at the LaLiga side.
Félix is now due to return to Atlético Madrid and Cancelo to Manchester City. Both could return to Barça this summer, although sources have told ESPN that Xavi was not keen on re-signing either.
Despite a promising start to his loan period, Félix was ultimately excluded from the team at the conclusion of the season. He tallied 10 goals in his 44 appearances.
Cancelo was an ever-present under Xavi when available, but sources told ESPN the coach was also delighted for the Portugal international to return to City.
Mendes’ influence at Barça also extends to several other players, such as Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, and Ansu Fati.
Brazil striker Roque, meanwhile, joined Barça for an initial €31 million ($33.7m) from Athletico Paranaense but has struggled for game time under Xavi, scoring twice in 16 appearances.
Xavi recently said that the intention had not been for Roque, who is still just 18, to arrive mid-season but for him to continue his development in his homeland before signing this summer.
Roque’s agent, Andre Cury, has said that his client has no intention of departing Barça on loan next season and that, if he does have to leave, it would be on a permanent transfer.
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The family key of England legend Steph Houghton was revealed during her retirement call.
Steph Houghton, the former captain of Manchester City and England, has stated that her decision to retire at the conclusion of the season was influenced by her perspective.
Houghton, 35, declared her retirement from football prior to the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. She participated in her final match in City’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend.
City narrowly lost out on their first Women’s Super League title since 2016, falling short on goal difference to seven-time winners Chelsea.
Houghton has disclosed that her decision was motivated by her desire to spend time with her family.
“I think perspective was really key in terms of like my life away from football and spending time with people, spending time with my husband,” Houghton indicated.
“I have not always found this season to be as enjoyable as I would have liked.” So I believe that when you begin to experience these emotions and return home, you may not be the same person you were before. At that point, I realized that I needed to reevaluate the next steps, as I was unable to continue in the same manner from a mental standpoint.I have not had the opportunity to contemplate my emotions in the past few days due to the slight frenzied nature of the situation. Saturday was an extremely emotional day, as I was disappointed that we did not win the league. However, the reception I received from City and Villa fans was truly remarkable. That moment will remain with us indefinitely. However, my ultimate goal is to settle down and conduct a thorough evaluation of my emotional state over the course of a few weeks. I am eager to see what lies ahead.
Throughout a 20-year tenure that encompassed four clubs—Sunderland, Leeds, Arsenal, and Manchester City—Houghton secured 16 domestic trophies. For City, she secured her final eight titles over the course of 10 years and 241 appearances.
Between 2007 and 2021, she was capped 121 times by England and played in four major tournaments. She represented her country at three World Cups in 2011, 2015, and 2019, as well as at the Euro Finals in 2013 and 2017. She was one of the first 17 athletes to receive a central contract from the FA.
At the London 2012 Olympics, Houghton scored the winning goal for Team GB against Brazil, which was instrumental in the significant development of women’s football in England. She subsequently assumed the role of captain in 2014 and guided the Lionesses to a third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
Nevertheless, the defender has spent a significant amount of time away from her family and home as a result of the extensive career, which has had a negative impact on her personal life. In 2018, her spouse, Stephen Darby, a former Liverpool player, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Houghton has dedicated a significant amount of time to advocating and promoting awareness through her husband’s foundation, The Darby Rimmer Foundation, since that time. She is eager to spend quality time with her family and continue to support the charity.
“I want to have a little bit of time to spend with Stephen and my family and do normal things for a bit, which I’ve not had a chance to do for a number of years,” according to Houghton.
“Retiring enables me to assist him in a small way by attempting to raise the maximum amount of money possible to support and assist individuals, as well as to raise funds for research and raise awareness.” I anticipate that I will be compelled to participate in additional excursions in Manchester, Liverpool, or London, regardless of the location. I am unable to use the alibi that I am preparing for a game; I will need to put on my walking boots.
“I believe it is time that I return some of the time I have spent with them and spend more time with my family.” It would be enjoyable to observe my nephews as they mature and to spend more time with them.
“And particularly Stephen.” It is obvious that the past few years have been difficult for everyone. Therefore, I must be a bit more selfless with my time and strive to create more memories with him. Retirement will provide me with the opportunity to do so. Family is of paramount importance to us, and I am aware that they have consistently supported me throughout my professional career. Therefore, it would be delightful to spend some genuine time with them.
Houghton was selected as one of 17 former and current players who are part of an all-female cohort that is striving to obtain their UEFA A license in order to maintain their options for their post-player careers. She acknowledged that coaching is an option to investigate; however, she would also prefer to remain in the City structure at a higher administrative level. Since her playing career has calmed down, she has also experimented with punditry and media.
“I believe that the concept is to explore every possible opportunity to acclimate to being away from the pitch.” I believe it is necessary to adopt that perspective, as if it were a distinct chapter. I am likely to approach it with the same intensity as I have with my football chapter, as it is the subsequent chapter.
“I am confident that I will be able to commit to any endeavor I undertake in the future.” “I am willing to exert myself to the fullest in order to have the greatest possible impact.”
LIVE Transfer Talk: Arsenal and Tottenham join Man Utd in the race for Doué
The summer transfer window will not reopen in Europe for another month, but there are numerous transactions in progress and rumors that are circulating. Transfer Talk provides you with the most recent information regarding rumors, transactions, and, of course, completed transactions.
In the pursuit of Stade Rennais winger Désiré Doué, Arsenal has joined Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, and Bayern Munich.
The Daily Mirror reports that Arsenal could move to the front of the queue, despite the fact that the youngster has been exhaustively scouted by a number of top European clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, who have also been linked with a move.
Les Rennais are reluctant to let the 18-year-old leave, but with rising interest and multiple bids reportedly looming in the coming weeks, they’re also resigned to the reality that he could be on the move this summer.
Doué played 43 times for Julien Stéphan’s side this season, netting four goals and adding six assists. Yet it’s Stade Rennais’ failure to secure European football for a second successive campaign that will likely prove their undoing when it comes to retaining hold of the rising star, with the side finishing 10th in the Ligue 1 table.
Doué is currently under contract until 2026; however, he is determined to compete at the highest level, which will require Europe’s most elite organizations to compete for his services.