‘A long term target’: Journalist claims Leicester City begins talk with former premier league’s top six manager as Maresca successor
Leicester City are facing an uncertain future despite winning the Championship.
The club amassed an impressive 97 points to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Leicester took a risk following relegation at the end of the 2022/23 season when they appointed Manchester City assistant manager Enzo Maresca as manager in just his second role as the main man.
The only senior management experience Maresca had to his name prior to the move to the King Power was a failed promotion campaign with Parma in Italy, with none other than the great Gianluigi Buffon in goal.
Now, though, after just a year at the club Maresca could leave, with Chelsea reportedly in talks with the Argentine about their vacant managerial post following Mauricio Pochettino’s sacking.
Leicester could go for ‘long-term target’ if Enzo Maresca joins Chelsea
It would be a real shame to see Maresca depart so soon after achieving promotion.
The 44-year-old has spent the season moulding Leicester in his shared image with Pep Guardiola, with possession the focus.
If Maresca does join Chelsea, Leicester do have the benefit of being an attractive proposition for any incoming manager, and they may use that to try and persuade a manager they have long been admirers of to take charge.
According to LCFC Live journalist Jordan Blackwell on ‘X’, Graham Potter is a ‘long-term target’.
Carlos Corberan is also mentioned, whilst the linked article offers names such as Michael Carrick and Will Still.
Graham Potter likely to be tempted by Leicester job
Potter had one of the fastest growing reputations in English football when he left Brighton to take the reins at Chelsea in September 2022.
Having initially garnered attention for steering Swedish side Osterstund to a Europa League round of 32 tie against Arsenal, Potter soon moved to Swansea City before earning plaudits for his playing style at Brighton.
It did not work out at Chelsea – with Potter Todd Boehly’s first appointment – but as Pochettino has learnt since, Stamford Bridge is not currently an environment conducive with success.
Perhaps Maresca could heed the warning of both Potter and Pochettino’s time in west London.
However, for Potter, this could represent a real opportunity to prove himself once again with the Chelsea spell denting his reputation.
The 49-year-old has been out of work since his Chelsea sacking in April 2023 and has been patiently waiting for the right opportunity.
Perhaps, if the Leicester job opens up, he will consider this the perfect job.
Potter tends to favour a 3-4-2-1 formation according to Transfermarkt, which could suit the personnel Leicester have at the club very well when you consider central defender Wout Faes often played at left-back towards the end of the season.
Potter is a very good coach with a track record of improving players that he works with and getting the maximum out of each individual.
With Leicester set for a difficult first season back in the Premier League, this could well be crucial.
