Enzo Maresca takes back seat in Chelsea transfer breakthrough as 'swap deal agreed'

Enzo Maresca is settling into his new role at Chelsea, with the club's sporting directors reportedly taking a proactive approach in the hunt for fresh talent.

The Italian tactician, familiar with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from their time at Leicester, will see the midfielder join the Blues in a £30million move. Despite this, reports suggest that it wasn't Maresca who spearheaded the pursuit of Dewsbury-Hall, but rather the Chelsea board orchestrating the transfer.

This dynamic underscores the expected function of Maresca within the Chelsea framework, indicating he may not be at the forefront of recruitment decisions. Maresca, who left Leicester for Chelsea after a single season, had previously addressed rumours about his discontent with the Foxes' management.

He clarified his stance, saying: "No, no, I'm not asking for more control. I'm asking just to be able to do my job that I'm being paid for. No more than that." Observers have noted how Maresca's approach contrasts with that of Mauricio Pochettino, whose tenure at Chelsea was marked by well-publicised tensions with the club's upper echelons, reports the Mirror.

Maresca's journey to the top tier of football management began with a Premier League 2 title win with Manchester City in 2021, which led to his first stint as a first-team manager at Parma in Italy. However, after just a year, he was back at the Etihad, working as an assistant to Pep Guardiola.

Following in the footsteps of former colleagues like Mikel Arteta and Vincent Kompany, Maresca decided to strike out on his own, joining Leicester in 2023. Now, he's preparing to take the reins at Chelsea, with Dewsbury-Hall, a key player from his past tenure, set to join him.

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The Blues have been busy in the transfer market, selling defenders Ian Matasen and Lewis Hall and signing Omari Kellyman. But with several other players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, it's likely there will be more arrivals and departures. However, it appears that any further signings won't necessarily be dictated by Maresca's wishes.