Chelsea to hold Enzo Maresca exit talks TODAY: Under-fire and angry manager could leave before the weekend as tension with his bosses reaches boiling point

Chelsea will hold talks on New Year’s Day to discuss Enzo Maresca’s future amid serious uncertainty surrounding the head coach.

The tension between Maresca and his employers has now reached such a point that a separation may occur sooner than expected, although this also depends on today’s developments.

Chelsea travel to Manchester City on Sunday and Maresca will speak to the media at Chelsea’s training ground tomorrow to preview the match.

Chelsea have won just one of their last seven Premier League games but Maresca’s cryptic comments at press conferences have increased friction between him and his bosses.

Maresca, in particular, said following their victory over Everton that he had had his ‘worst 48 hours’ since joining the team, and subsequently refused to elaborate on this grievance when questioned both externally by the media and internally by club staff.

Despite all the speculation about his future, Maresca claimed he will ‘definitely’ be at Stamford Bridge next season. However, talks are planned to be held today to decide what to do next.

The Italian footballer is under great pressure at Chelsea following the club’s recent loss of form

Maresca, who replaced Cole Palmer after 63 minutes, was booed by the fans as the Blues drew 2-2 with Bournemouth in front of the viewing hierarchy at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. Some also said: ‘You don’t know what you’re doing.’

His superiors, including Maresca co-owner Behdad Eghbali, walked down the tunnel as usual after full-time work. Maresca later withdrew from giving media interviews after telling aides he felt too bad to speak.

According to the news on New Year’s Eve, it was claimed that Maresca might even resign. Representatives for Maresca did not respond to requests for comment.

Daily Mail Sports Last night Chelsea reported that although they hope they can wait until the planned review this summer (which was due to take place after the Italian has been in charge for two years to gauge progress), it is understood they would be prepared to take action sooner if necessary.

It is also possible that Maresca may decide to leave by mutual consent if he feels that he can no longer continue at Chelsea.

The team should be performing better than they have been so far, it is believed they have enough talent in their squad to secure the target of finishing in the top four, but the home draw against Bournemouth was another disappointing result.

Chelsea were top of the table in that game but have fallen 15 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season; this was the most points dropped of any team.

Tensions between Maresca and his employers have reached a point where the separation could happen sooner than expected (pictured owners Behdad Eghbali (L) and Todd Boehly (R))

A tough winning streak in seven league games has seen them move from being in the title conversation to now sitting in fifth place, closer to Nottingham Forest in 17th than first-placed Arsenal.

January will be a busy month for Chelsea with nine matches to be played, starting with a trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

It is thought Maresca could move to City if Pep Guardiola leaves this summer, and the news comes after his “worst 48-hour” outburst.

Chelsea backed Maresca last winter when his team suffered a similar loss of form.

But his cryptic comments at press conferences further increased the confusion behind the scenes.