Pundit Andy Townsend has now claimed that the incoming Chelsea manager should stand up to the owners at the club on one point of conflict this summer.
It is widely expected that it is just hours until Enzo Maresca is announced as the new boss at Stamford Bridge, after a fairly swift recruitment process.
A lot was made of the fact that he has never actually managed in the Premier League before, however it has been said the Italian impressed greatly during his interview.
One thing that was particularly impressive was how he had a plan ready to get the best out of Enzo Fernandez, who many would say was not actually one of Chelsea’s top midfielders at the end of the season.
Instead, many would have Conor Gallagher in their starting midfield, although there are no guarantees over whether he will remain at the club beyond this summer.
Despite wide reports he is going to be sold for the right price, Townsend has told Maresca on TalkSPORT that he should plead to keep hold of the England international.
Maresca told to keep Conor Gallagher
He said: “Actually, when I had seen him at Palace, he had an eye for a goal, he was running forward, he would run beyond people, get in the box, at Chelsea this year, he added more to his game, I thought.
“He played really well, and his partnership with Caicedo is a better one than what Enzo had, much better. I would love to think that Enzo (Maresca) could say to the hierarchy, ‘Look, I appreciate the books have got to be balanced, etc, but please don’t sell my captain. I need him, I want him to stay. Desperately, genuinely want him to stay.”
It is fair to say that Gallagher’s presence in the side helped get the best out of Moises Caicedo, who was brought in for a club-record fee.
However, the likelihood is the two £100m+ midfielders will need to find a way to perform together in the new era.
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