Five options to replace Enzo Maresca after Chelsea boss leaves following turmoil - The Mirror

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca have parted ways with tensions at a boiling point at Stamford Bridge, leaving the Blues on the lookout for a new manager midway through the season

Chelsea have found themselves looking for a new manager after the club parted company with Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day.

Results have dropped off and there have been serious tensions behind the scenes, which has left the west Londoners on the look out for a manager again. Already their ownership, led by Todd Boehly, has been through the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino.

Now Maresca has become the latest casualty and the Blues are no stranger to finding a new manager midway through the season. Chelsea are in contention for the top four and are nicely set in the Champions League.

It makes the Chelsea gig an attractive one for any manager who could get the call. Taking a job midway through the campaign presents its own challenges, but the willingness to invest from the club's hierarchy would likely be another draw.

Despite their recent struggles on the pitch, which has seen them win just one of their last seven, Chelsea do have a young squad that is bursting with quality and potential. Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are one of the most exciting midfield pairings around.

Couple that with quality in the final third in the form of Cole Palmer and Estevao and there is huge scope to win in the coming years. With that in mind, we take a look at who the Blues could consider as their next manager.

Xavi

He is the bookies' favourite and a man without a job - which will make him far more attractive. There is no potential compensation fee needing to be paid to a rival club. The Spaniard was one of the great football brains of his generation and has proved effective as a manager. He won La Liga when he returned to take charge of Barcelona as their manager, but will certainly feel as though he has more to prove in the dugout.

Liam Rosenior

Liam Rosenior is building an impressive reputation at Strasbourg, another club under the BlueCo banner, so bringing him to Stamford Bridge would be relatively simple. Despite not being in charge of a traditional French powerhouse, he is showing his ability as a manager.

In Ligue 1, Strasbourg are close to the European spots and claimed a credible draw at PSG earlier this year. They're also top of the Europa Conference League. Rosenior has shown an ability to get the best out of players - ex-Blue Ben Chilwell headed to France in the summer and has returned to form under him.

Oliver Glasner

His reputation has just gone up and up since he was appointed by Crystal Palace. He led them to FA Cup glory last year and then claimed the Community Shield to begin this season. All of those exploits have come whilst the Eagles have lost their best players in the transfer market.

Prior to his time in England, Glasner won the Europa League with Frankfurt. There's no doubt though that he's grown frustrated with an apparent lack of ambition in the transfer market - and he may eventually feel as though he's done all he can with the resources available.

Unai Emery

Another Premier League manager clearly outperforming his resources. The question is just how long the Spanish boss will feel he can keep taking Aston Villa forward. He looks incredibly settled and has the run of the club in the Midlands, but after underwhelming stints at Arsenal and PSG there is a school of thought that Emery may want another go with one of Europe's heavyweights. Getting him from Villa Park midway through the season looks a near impossible task though.

Cesc Fabregas

A modern manager who is making an impressive reputation for himself. Fabregas himself is a former Chelsea player, winning two titles with them, and is now in charge at Como in Italy. His tactical methods and practices have drawn praise and he has the minnows sat in sixth in Serie A - good enough for a European place at present. He's enjoyed scalps over the likes of Juventus and will no doubt want to take a top job should call come his way.

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