- Newcastle United learn price to hire Enzo Maresca
- Previous belief Chelsea would be owed compensation
- Alan Shearer waxed lyrically about Italian
It remains unknown who will manage Newcastle United next season. Eddie Howe is under pressure amid recent form and several high profile names have been linked. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is an outsider, but remains available for work.
Reports this week from Ben Jacobs claim that Maresca is free to join any club this summer, despite rumours that the Blues would require compensation.
In an age where Chelsea have a systemic problem, Maresca created something special compared to other managers under the BlueCo ownership.
Could Enzo Maresca lead Newcastle United?
The Stamford Bridge outfit have struggled to challenge for the Premier League title since the new ownership took control in 2022.
The idea of signing youth players with high potential seems good on paper, but the cracks are there for everyone to see. A lack of structure to their plan has seen a period of stagnation take over the club.
However, their best time came under Maresca. The high-intensity pressing alongside inverting fullbacks helped create a system that benefited their squad, as they made a return to the Champions League and won the Conference League.
A suspected falling out with the higher-ups meant he departed the Blues back in January.
It’s thought that Maresca could be the man to lead Manchester City once Pep Guardiola leaves, but the Spaniard seems to be staying on for another year in the North West. That could open the door for Newcastle to approach Maresca.
The Black and Whites’ owners are expected to make a decision on Howe’s future sooner rather than later, but with another defeat to Arsenal on the weekend, it looks like the Englishman’s time at the club is coming to an end.
Maresca is the type of character to ring changes, and Newcastle United certainly need them. If Magpies fans need convincing, look no further than the words of club legend Alan Shearer.
After the Chelsea manager secured a 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup Final, Shearer labelled the side’s tactics a ‘masterclass’. He said: “It was a masterclass from Maresca because PSG went in, their football has worked all season and why not? Why should they change anything?
“But I think the little tweaks from Maresca, they’re pressing high and all those things, and I just think it worked perfectly for them and he deserves huge credit, not only for the job he’s done in this competition, but for the whole season.
“I don’t think anyone knew what to expect because you know what happens at Chelsea, it’s happened before: if you don’t win things, you know exactly what happens. You’re in there for a reason and know how it’s going to work. He’s done a magnificent job, he really has.”
AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola linked with Tyneside
Following the defeat to the Gunners, the two favourites to replace Howe were Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Benfica’s Jose Mourinho.
While Iraola is heavily linked to the Chelsea job following Liam Rosenior’s sacking, he would bring something new, modern football to St James’ Park.
Appointing the Special One would roll back the years, but he hasn’t been able to show the quality he once possessed. The idea of the Portuguese manager becoming the boss at Newcastle would certainly be a U-turn on the level-headed presence of Howe.
Maresca would bring new blood into a club which is desperate to break through and maintain a place within the elite clubs, not just in England but in Europe. Mourinho was once a man capable of this, but time has moved on, making Maresca one of the standout candidates this summer.
In other news, Bruno Guimaraes hits out at ‘complacent’ Newcastle United teammates.
