Jamie O’Hara says Chelsea may opt to part ways with Enzo Maresca this summer if the Italian doesn’t meet the club’s targets.

Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, O’Hara suggested that the Blues could hire a higher-profile manager if they do decide to sack their current coach:

“Enzo Maresca is struggling a bit at Chelsea. We saw something similar at Leicester—his team started strongly but faded in the second half of the season. Right now, the football Chelsea are playing under him is starting to feel turgid for some fans.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Maresca is gone by the end of the season. If Chelsea don’t improve, the club could be looking for a replacement in the summer. They’ve invested heavily in a young squad, and if Maresca isn’t delivering—which, right now, he isn’t, I think they’ll bring in a big-name manager.”

What Maresca said back in August

Some have suggested that the former Leicester head coach needs a top-four position to keep his job but, speaking at the start of the season, the 45-year-old claimed that “no one from the club” had told him that he needed to finish in a Champions League spot.

Of course, if the team’s form continues to slide between now and the end of the campaign, Maresca’s future will undoubtedly come under scrutiny.

The Chelsea manager’s job is “100%” safe

Speaking this week, one of Chelsea’s directors Jonathan Goldstein said the Blues are happy with Marecsa. When asked directly whether the Italian will stay in charge for the rest of the season, Goldstein replied:

“100 percent”

That doesn’t rule out a change being made in the summer. For the time being, though, Maresca knows he has the backing of Clearlake Capital and the other decision-makers on the club’s board.

Read our exclusive interview with Gus Poyet as he discusses Jadon Sancho’s performances and the future of Enzo Maresca