Chelsea are in talks to appoint Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca as the replacement for Mauricio Pochettino.
The Italian, 44, took charge of the Foxes in June 2023 and has just led them back to the Premier League by winning the Championship at the first attempt.
Maresca is interested in moving to Chelsea, with talks continuing between the two clubs, 24 hours after Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna dropped out of the race for the role.
Former Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank have not been fully ruled out but there is broad consensus across the club that Maresca is the right choice.
Chelsea would have to pay compensation fees for any of their remaining options.
Pochettino left the club by mutual consent last week after finishing sixth in the Premier League in his one season in charge.
BBC Sport understands Leicester would be seeking £8m-£10m in compensation for Maresca, who served his coaching apprenticeship as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
Whether the deal gets done would be dependent on Chelsea's willingness to pay such a fee.
However they are determined to agree a compensation package in the coming days.
BBC