Enzo Maresca linked with surprise exit after leading Leicester City to Championship title

A report in Spain has linked Enzo Maresca with a surprise move away from Leicester City on the back of his achievements during his maiden campaign with the club.

The Foxes only recruited the Italian last summer, handing him his first professional management gig in English football after spending time as assistant to Pep Guardiola in Manchester City's treble-winning campaign. Whilst a step down the league system, there was certainly just as much pressure to deliver and some 10 months later the decision has evidently paid off.

City have confirmed their return to the top-flight as Championship title-winners after a one-year absence. They will again be amongst England's elite, though will it be their current manager on the touchline come kick-off in August?

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The club would certainly hope so, to build upon the solid foundations put down throughout the 2023/24 campaign, however newspaper ABC de Sevilla yesterday featured an in-depth analysis into the situation at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

They report that Sevilla, who are well-regarded as the Europa League's most successful club but have endured a dismal domestic campaign this year, are assessing their options. With the club in 16th place, it will come down to their final fixtures for chiefs to decide whether current head coach Quique Sanchez Flores has a future there beyond this month.

Should he be replaced, then it is said Maresca's name is 'on the table' to be the one to help restore Los Nervionenses' glory. The 44-year-old is still under contract at the King Power Stadium until 2026.

At least some respite for Foxes fans is that the report lists CA Osasuna's Jagoba Arrasate as the lead candidate to take over the Sevilla project. Last season he took his current club to Europa Conference League qualification - their first European involvement in 16 years - and the Spanish Cup final.

Another good suggestion pointing towards the future is Maresca's desire to sit down with City bosses and discuss issues such as finances and transfers, to correct matters he "didn't like" during his first season.