Chelsea have issued a controversial statement explaining the circumstances behind Enzo Maresca’s departure from the club, on the same day that Manchester City formally confirmed the Italian as Pep Guardiola’s successor.

The timing of the statement is unlikely to be coincidental, with Chelsea making their feelings very clear about how Maresca’s exit was handled back in December, despite the two clubs reaching what’s described as a mutual settlement.

It’s a rare and direct intervention from the Blues, who have chosen to set the record straight on a saga that they believe derailed their season.

Chelsea Explain why Maresca Left

In the statement, Chelsea acknowledged that the 2025/26 campaign had been a “hugely disappointing” one, pointing to the upheaval caused by Maresca’s exit as a major factor.

Chelsea finished the Premier League season in 10th, a dismal season by their standards. Maresca had them sitting in 5th place at the time of his departure, which would have been good enough for a place in next season’s Champions League, a tournament they won just five years ago, but the Blues will now have to settle for no European football at all.

The club revealed they were informed in autumn that an opportunity to succeed Guardiola may arise, and it quickly became clear it was something Maresca was determined to pursue, despite being under a long-term contract.

“In December 2025, our Head Coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position,” the statement read, adding that Chelsea felt his “head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.”

Read Chelsea’s full statement below:

“Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the Club and its supporters. A major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the Club was forced to make to the Head Coach position over the Christmas period. Due to recent developments, we consider that it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why our former Head Coach left the Club on 1 January 2026.

In Autumn last year, the Club was informed by our former Head Coach that there might be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.

In December 2025, our Head Coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.

No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season. However, in light of his decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season, the Club was left with no choice but to protect our players, our supporters, and the Badge and accept his resignation.

In the circumstances and given the mutual respect between clubs, a confidential settlement has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation. A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former Head Coach under which he will pay compensation.

Looking forward to next season, in Xabi Alonso, we have a Manager who has an exceptional football mind and is a professional of the highest integrity. He has all the attributes to deliver the success the Club’s supporters deserve and expect.”

Maresca Responds as Focus Shifts to Xabi Alonso

Chelsea confirmed a confidential settlement had been reached with both Manchester City and Maresca himself, which includes compensation being paid to the club on both fronts. Maresca has since responded to the statement, offering something of an apology for the timing of his exit.

Despite the frustration being evident throughout the statement, Chelsea were quick to turn attention to the future, praising new head coach Xabi Alonso as a manager with an “exceptional football mind” and a “professional of the highest integrity.”

The club also added that Alonso has “all the attributes to deliver the success the Club’s supporters deserve and expect,” drawing a clear line under the Maresca saga as they look to move forward under their new appointment.

It has been well-documented that Manchester United are looking to strengthen their midfield options this summer as the Red Devils look to build on the good work done by Michael Carrick during his spell as interim manager last season.

United finished third in the Premier League, subsequently qualifying for the Champions League, and Carrick saw his temporary contract made permanent.

Casemiro’s departure at the end of his contract means that the Red Devils will be looking to sign one midfielder at the very least, but it could certainly end up being multiple.

Numerous names have been linked with a switch to Old Trafford and work is going on behind the scenes regarding targets. However, to no surprise, some of those players are also courting interest from Premier League rivals, and it appears as though United are currently facing a similar scenario.

United want Felix Nmecha

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According to TEAMtalk, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha is currently subject to strong interest from Manchester United, as well as fellow Premier League club Chelsea.

Additionally, Newcastle United had also been an interested party but the Magpies have since stepped away from a potential deal due to Dortmund’s reported €100m (£86m) valuation of the Germany star.

Nmecha is currently at the World Cup in North America with Die Mannschaft and scored in Germany’s 7-1 romping of Curaçao in the opening match. He also registered an assist in that match, as well as one in a 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast.

The 25-year-old was on course to feature in all 34 of Dortmund’s Bundesliga matches last season but an injury towards the back end of the campaign kept him sidelined for a month.

Often deployed as either an eight or a six, Nmecha isn’t known for his goalscoring but did contribute five goals across all competitions alongside three assists.

United in the strongest position

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Assessing the current negotiating stance of both Manchester United and Chelsea, the former are in the strongest position considering that they have Champions League football to offer, whereas the latter aren’t even in Europe this season.

Additionally, Nmecha’s previous links to Manchester could act as a factor. Although German, the midfielder came through Manchester City’s youth ranks and even played for England at a couple of youth levels.

He made a total of three first-team appearances for the Cityzens before joining Wolfsburg on a free transfer in 2021 and has spent the last three seasons at Dortmund.

Labelled as “world-class” by his national team manager Julian Nagelsmann, Nmecha would certainly bring plenty of athleticism and tenacity to the United core and could prove to be a perfect Casemiro replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur may have moved one step closer to landing another dream Roberto De Zerbi transfer target after offering him £7.3m per year to join the club.

Tottenham chiefs and De Zerbi are clearly doing everything to not only ensure they don’t find themselves in a Premier League relegation scrap again next season, but that they are actually competing in and around the top six again.

That is the level of ambition they are showing in the summer transfer window so far, with Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka already signing on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs are far from done there even though their backline is coming together, with a focus on strengthening their midfield and attack next ahead of next season.

Tottenham are being linked with many forwards including Marcus Rashford and Savinho, who Fabrizio Romano reports they are in talks with Manchester City to sign.

However, midfield seems to be the priority right now, with De Zerbi showing huge ambition with the players he wants to join to bolster the engine room.

Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali has been their number one target for the position, but the Italian manager wants West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes alongside him too next term.

Tottenham Offer Mateus Fernandes £7.3m-Per-Year Contract

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While Tottenham remain intent on a big-money deal to prise Tonali away from St James’ Park, they are also involved in an intense battle with Manchester United for Fernandes.

According to Claret & Hugh, both clubs are said to have reached an agreement on personal terms with the player, who is open to joining whichever club can agree a fee with the Hammers.

The report claims that Spurs have offered a deal worth approximately £140,000-a-week (£7.3m per year) to the Portugal international to convince him to move across the capital, with the 21-year-old’s salary dropping to £30,000-a-week from £60,000-a-week following the club’s relegation to the Championship.

A deal isn’t close yet though, with either club yet to make a formal offer for the ‘superstar’ midfielder, who West Ham are determined to get £80-85m for.

Perhaps things will move once the SCR deadline passes on Tuesday.

Tottenham Offer West Ham Fernandes Swap Deal

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According to ExWHUEmployee, Tottenham are offering players in exchange to try and help get a deal over the line for Fernandes.

Spurs and United both seem reluctant to reach West Ham’s £85m valuation as things stand, so offering players as part of any offer will help to reduce the fee.

Of course, the Irons also need to be tempted by what is being offered to them, with Mikey Moore one of the names mentioned.

Tottenham surely won’t want to lose the talented 18-year-old permanently following an impressive year on loan with Rangers, but also De Zerbi has shown that he prefers experience to youth, with Lucas Bergvall already deciding he needs to go following the club’s interest in Tonali and Fernandes.

A loan exit for Moore could be a possibility then, and he could be seen as a player who could really boost West Ham’s chances of securing an immediate return to the Premier League.