Chelsea closing in on first signing of the Enzo Maresca era

Chelsea are closing in on making the first signing of the Enzo Maresca era at the club.

Maresca hasn't actually been officially confirmed as Mauricio Pochettino's successor at Stamford Bridge, but he is appointment is expected to be confirmed imminently.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Maresca will sign a five-year contract - with the option of a further year - with Chelsea on Saturday.

The London club will also pay Leicester City - who Maresca guided to the Championship title just a few weeks ago - compensation of more than £8.5 million.

Chelsea have spent more than £1bn on transfers since Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly bought the club in 2022, although it looks like the first signing of the Maresca era won't cost them a transfer fee at all.

As reported by Romano, Chelsea are in the final stages of negotiations with Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The 26-year-old will be a free agent when his contract at Craven Cottage expires later this month, meaning Chelsea will only have to pay his wages.

Newcastle had been working to sign Tosin in recent weeks, but now it appears that Chelsea - who will play in the UEFA Europa Conference League next season - will win the race.

Adarabioyo is a product of Manchester City's academy, and joined Fulham in October 2020 after loan spells at West Brom and Blackburn Rovers.

The defender and Maresca briefly worked together at City when the Italian took charge of the club's Elite Development Squad side in the summer of 2020.

Chelsea are looking to bolster their defensive options with veteran centre-back Thiago Silva leaving the club upon the expiration of his contract and Trevoh Chalobah linked with the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham.