Revealed: When Enzo Maresca will be officially announced as Manchester City manager | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca is set to be confirmed as Manchester City’s new manager in the coming days, according to a new report.

The 46-year-old Italian has been identified as Pep Guardiola‘s successor since the outgoing manager announced his departure last week, with a three-year contract understood to have been agreed in principle between Manchester City and their former EDS coach.

As Manchester City fans eagerly await an official announcement, Chelsea are understood to be seeking a sizeable fee for a manager who still had contractual obligations at Stamford Bridge at the point of him stepping down, which was announced on New Year’s Day.

Report: Maresca confirmation expected in coming days

According to Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, Maresca is set to be confirmed as Manchester City’s new manager in the coming days, bringing to a close the period of transition that has followed Guardiola’s emotional farewell.

Maresca is understood to have already held preliminary discussions with director of football Hugo Viana over pre-season and transfer window plans, with Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Eli Junior Kroupi among the targets already discussed for the summer window.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero is expected to be part of the incoming manager’s backroom team, with the full composition of Maresca’s staff also to be finalised in the coming days.

What does Maresca’s appointment mean for City’s new era?

Maresca inherits a squad in transition. Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Ederson have all departed this summer, with nearly all of Guardiola’s entire backroom unit – including Pepijn Lijnders, Lorenzo Buenaventura, Xabier Mancisidor, Manuel Estiarte and Kolo Toure – also having left the club.

The incoming manager arrives with a clear track record of developing young talent and playing attractive, possession-based football – qualities that made him an attractive candidate to Hugo Viana and the City hierarchy as they searched for a manager capable of maintaining the club’s standards while simultaneously overseeing a significant rebuild.

Guardiola’s message to his incoming successor was characteristically generous – be yourself, trust the club and the support will be unconditional. The formal confirmation of Maresca’s appointment will mark the moment that message is put to the test.