Manchester City’s owners are reportedly planning a huge Italian deal involving a former West Ham United man.
West Ham will be aiming to go one better than Man City and make it through their European semi-final tonight.
Man City came agonisingly close to setting up an all English Champions League final against Liverpool but were somehow beaten by Real Madrid after a dramatic last gasp turnaround.
West Ham trail German club Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 from the Europa League semi-final first leg and must come from behind in the tie to set up a potential all-British final against Rangers or another German test against RB Leipzig.
Man City may be out of Europe, but the club’s owners – The City Group – plan to increase their reach across the continent.
Man City’s owners are planning a huge Italian deal involving former West Ham man Enzo Maresca.
According to the likes of Palermo Today and Football Italia, The City Group are already preparing to take over Palermo – who West Ham faced in the UEFA Cup back in 2007.
And they’re planning on starting the project with former West Ham coach Maresca as manager.
Maresca was Hammers assistant coach under Manuel Pellegrini. He was even linked with the West Ham manager’s job when Pellegrini was sacked.
Man City owners planning huge Italian deal involving ex West Ham man Enzo Maresca
But the Hammers went with David Moyes and the rest, as they say, is history.
Maresca went on to coach Man City’s Under 23s and then Parma.
Now Palermo Today and Football Italia claim the ex West Ham man could be installed as manager of Palermo as Manchester City’s owners prepare to finalise their purchase of the Italian club.
It will add another club to the expanding City Group banner which includes Pep Guardiola’s Citizens, Melbourne City, New York City FC and Troyes.
West Ham have their own hand in cross-continent multi-club ownership.
Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky became West Ham’s second biggest stakeholder back in November when he purchased 27 per cent of the Hammers.
Kretinsky also owns Czech club Sparta Prague.