Enzo Maresca has reportedly been holding talks with Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella about possibly following him to Manchester City.

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The Spain international has been a key player for the Blues and is someone Maresca will know well, with Simon Phillips now reporting that they could be reunited.

The Italian tactician is the favourite to take over from Pep Guardiola at Man City this summer, as per BBC Sport and other recent reports.

Guardiola’s exit and Maresca’s arrival have not yet been confirmed, but it’s surely something to watch and it could have major implications for Cucurella’s future.

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Chelsea face fight to keep hold of Marc Cucurella

Cucurella is not someone Chelsea will want to lose, but he’s perhaps signalled that he’s not entirely happy with how things are going at Stamford Bridge.

The 27-year-old is also on the radar of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, according to Sky Sports, so it will be interesting to see how this saga develops.

Chelsea would surely rather sell Cucurella abroad than to one of their main rivals, but it might also be more realistic for City to afford him, while the Maresca connection could also be key.

Xabi Alonso could be key to Marc Cucurella’s future

Even if Cucurella hasn’t sounded content with life at CFC in recent times, perhaps the arrival of Xabi Alonso as manager can persuade him to give the project more time.

Phillips’ report suggests, however, that Cucurella’s departure is perhaps looking the more likely outcome at the moment.

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This is certainly far from an ideal situation for Alonso to be inheriting upon his arrival in west London, though there should at least be funds given to bring in a replacement.

Phillips names Newcastle’s Lewis Hall as one left-back Chelsea could target if Cucurella ends up leaving.

The post Enzo Maresca has been speaking to Chelsea star about joining him at Manchester City appeared first on CaughtOffside.

After months of uncertainty in the matter, multiple reports have broken claiming Pep Guardiola will leave his position as the Manchester City manager at the end of the season. The name that has been mentioned the most in terms of a potential replacement is Enzo Maresca, and according to Fabrizio Romano, City have already reached […]

The post Enzo Maresca set to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Enzo Maresca set to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City appeared first on Soccer News.

After months of uncertainty in the matter, multiple reports have broken claiming Pep Guardiola will leave his position as the Manchester City manager at the end of the season. The name that has been mentioned the most in terms of a potential replacement is Enzo Maresca, and according to Fabrizio Romano, City have already reached […]

The post Enzo Maresca set to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Enzo Maresca set to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City appeared first on Soccer News.

Manchester City appear to be moving quickly towards their post-Pep Guardiola future, with Enzo Maresca now reportedly in line to become the club’s next manager.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Maresca has reached a verbal agreement with City and is expected to sign an initial three-year deal.

The Italian has long been viewed inside the club as the most natural successor to Guardiola because of his previous work within the City system and his clear connection to Pep’s football ideas.

Guardiola’s exit is still not formally announced by Manchester City, but reports from major outlets suggest he is expected to leave at the end of the season after a decade in charge.

Reuters reported that Guardiola is set to depart after City’s final game, while also noting that Maresca is strongly tipped to succeed him.

Pep Guardiola is stepping down as Man City boss

This would be one of the biggest managerial changes in Premier League history.

Guardiola has not just won trophies at Manchester City, he has completely reshaped the club’s identity.

His team became the standard for control, dominance, pressing and tactical detail in English football.

Leaving after 10 years would close one of the most successful chapters the league has ever seen.

The numbers speak for themselves. Guardiola has won 20 trophies at City, including six Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cups and League Cups.

The Guardian reported that City are preparing for the possibility of his departure, with Maresca expected to take over if the change is confirmed.

Maresca makes sense because he is not an outsider walking into a completely unfamiliar environment.

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Maresca has history with the Premier League side

He previously worked at Man City, managed the club’s Elite Development Squad, and learned closely from the Guardiola model.

That matters because City do not need a manager who will rip everything up. They need someone who can protect the footballing structure while adding fresh energy.

He also has senior managerial experience. Maresca won promotion with Leicester City and later managed Chelsea, where he dealt with the pressure of a major Premier League club.

His spell at Chelsea had ups and downs, but it gave him valuable experience of managing stars, handling media pressure and working in a demanding environment.

The reported three-year deal is also interesting. It gives Maresca enough time to build something, but not so long that City are trapped if the transition becomes difficult.

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The post Romano confirms “Here we go” for ex-Premier League boss to succeed Guardiola appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester City could be heading towards the end of the Pep Guardiola era, with fresh reports suggesting the club are preparing for life after their legendary manager.

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the feeling inside City is that Guardiola will leave at the end of the season unless there is a late change, and everything is already in place for Enzo Maresca to step in as his replacement.

This is still not officially confirmed by Manchester City. In fact, Guardiola recently insisted he would not leave before his contract expires in 2027, saying he planned to see out his deal.

That makes the situation slightly confusing, because the public message from Guardiola is very different from the latest transfer-market noise.

Is Pep Guardiola leaving Man City?

If Guardiola does leave, it would be one of the biggest managerial changes in modern football.

Since arriving in 2016, he has completely reshaped Man City and English football in general.

City became a winning machine under him, not just because of spending, but because of the standards, tactical detail and dominance he built every week.

That is why replacing him is almost impossible. City are not just looking for a good coach.

They need someone who understands the club’s structure, the style of play, the demands of possession football and the pressure of winning constantly.

That is where Maresca makes sense. He already knows City well. He worked in the club’s system before and managed their Elite Development Squad, winning Premier League 2 in 2020/21.

He then showed his own managerial ability by winning the Championship with Leicester and earning promotion to the Premier League.

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Maresca would be ideal Guardiola replacment

His football has always carried Guardiola-style ideas: building from the back, dominating possession, using inverted full-backs and controlling games through midfield.

His Chelsea spell was more complicated, but it also showed his quality.

He led Chelsea back into the Champions League with a fourth-place finish, won the UEFA Conference League and lifted the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.

However, his time at Stamford Bridge ended early in January 2026 after tensions with the club’s ownership.

That background makes him an interesting option for City. He is not a random outsider.

He is someone who has worked inside the City model, understands Guardiola’s football and has already dealt with a big Premier League club.

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The post Journo drops Pep Guardiola bombshell and names top Man City target appeared first on CaughtOffside.