Enzo Maresca 'checks all the boxes' to be Chelsea's next manager as talks with Leicester boss reach advanced stage

Chelsea want to appoint Enzo Maresca as their new manager, talkSPORT understands.

Leicester manager Maresca's possession-based style has made him the overwhelming first choice among the west London team's hierarchy.

talkSPORT understands Chelsea have entered into negotiations with Leicester over compensation.

And he is the preferred candidate over the former Brighton boss. Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Frank from Brentford, who they also spoke to.

And his former left back Scott Minto He has explained why he believes that the Italian is a great candidate to take the reins.

Reacting to the news of Maresca's links with ChelseaHis former defender believes he would be a much better proposition than De Zerbi at Stamford Bridge.

“Can you imagine De Zerbi working with the Chelsea hierarchy at the moment?” he told talkSPORT. “He (wouldn't) accept it or pass the interview because he (the board) would say 'we can't have this guy because he won't let us do what we want to do.'

“Secondly, he wouldn't last a year. I think a lot of Chelsea fans will be thinking, 'you know what? We want a world-class coach out of the box', which is what they had in the (Roman) Abramovich era.

“The problem is that this is not how they are going to act and a ready-made world-class coach is not going to accept the terms and conditions, it is as simple as that.

“I think it will be Maresca.”

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Explaining why Chelsea will opt for the Leicester manager, Minto said: “I think Enzo Maresca fits the requirements that the Chelsea owners are looking for.

“He will most likely accept the terms and conditions and at the same time be a very good coach.”

talkSPORT reported that the Foxes will want £7.5m in compensation for their boss, whose possession-based football has been a key draw for the Chelsea hierarchy.

talkSPORT understands that Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, who had been heavily linked with Chelsea, is is no longer a candidate to fill the vacant position at Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Pochettino left the club by mutual agreement last week despite leading Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.