TURK THAT! SPECIAL ONE BACK AGAIN
Maresca’s five-year deal but he could be forced to sell Gallagher
JOSE MOURINHO is set to become the Fenerbahce manager after agreeing a two-year contract with the Turkish club.
Super agent Jorge Mendes has been busy negotiating Mourinho’s move to Istanbul, which comes after he already held talks with Fenerbahce’s big rivals Besiktas.
Fenerbahce claimed 99 points yet still missed out on the Turkish Super Lig title by three points to Galatasaray. Mourinho (left) confessed earlier this year he was targeting a return to the dugout come the summer after being sacked by Roma.
He said: “I am ready to start, sometimes you feel the need of a rest or a think. In this case, one day after I left (Roma) I was ready to go.
“I am really ready but I don’t want to make the wrong choice.”
ENZO MARESCA may have to offload Chelsea’s home-grown stars before he can look to strengthen their squad this summer.
Maresca, 44, has agreed a five-year contract to take over at Stamford Bridge after leading Leicester City to the Championship title.
Chelsea plan to shake up their squad again this summer, even though they will be under pressure to stay within the Premier League’s
Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). That puts an immediate question mark over the future of midfielder Conor Gallagher, a firm favourite at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham are long-time admirers of the 24-year-old, who has only a year left on his contract.
The Blues, who finished last season among the European places, want to beef up their squad, with a centre-forward and a centrehalf their top priorities.
Part of the attraction of Maresca – who worked at
Manchester City’s academy and is seen as sharing the same philosophy as Pep Guardiola – is his ability to work with young players.
Chelsea boast a young squad full of potential, including last season’s sensation Cole Palmer, and the Italian will hope to see them flourish under him.
Maresca (above) will be the head coach and will be expected to work within Chelsea’s football structure led by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. Chelsea were maddeningly inconsistent last season but five straight Premier League wins at the end of the campaign propelled them to sixth.
Given that strong, late run it was thought boss Mauricio Pochettino would be given another season.
But he left Stamford Bridge two days after the last match.
Only three teams – City, Arsenal and Liverpool – are rated more likely than Chelsea to finish in the top four next term.
Chelsea are just 11-8 with bookies.