Chelsea have intensified their search for Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement by making checks on Leicester’s Enzo Maresca, but candidates for the job believe that Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna is the favourite to take over at Stamford Bridge.
The Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership are keen to make a swift appointment after parting company with Pochettino by mutual consent – a development that has caused shock within the dressing room – and they have a number of managers in their sights.
Chelsea, who decided that a change was required after concluding that Pochettino did not enjoy working in their set-up, made contact with McKenna’s representatives several weeks ago. But the 38-year-old, who could stay at Ipswich after taking them into the Premier League, is also the leading candidate to replace Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and he is in the running to potentially take over from Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. The race is open and Chelsea’s need to put contingency plans in place has seen them reach out to Maresca’s camp.
It is unclear if Maresca would be interested in joining Chelsea after leading Leicester to the Championship title. Leicester could be hit with a points deduction before the start of next season and it remains to be seen if they will have a big budget this summer. Maresca, 44, plays attacking, possession-based football, which appeals to Chelsea.
They are keen to appoint a young, progressive head coach who is willing to buy into a recruitment structure headed by the co-sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. Chelsea are monitoring Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Girona’s Michel. Hoeness has signed a new deal at Stuttgart, who finished second in the Bundesliga, and is unlikely to move this summer. Chelsea like Vincent Kompany but the Burnley manager is a leading candidate to join Bayern Munich.
Pochettino, who has left Chelsea with his reputation intact after guiding them to sixth place in his only season in charge, could also be targeted by Bayern. The Argentinian will be an option for United if they sack Ten Hag and he is expected to receive offers from the Saudi Pro League. Al-Ittihad are set to replace Marcelo Gallardo. Their sporting director, Ramón Planes, is a close ally of Pochettino, who could also be an option for England if Gareth Southgate departs after Euro 2024.
The mood around Chelsea was uncertain after Pochettino, whose pay-off is yet to be disclosed, left after less than a year in the job. The Stamford Bridge club are looking for their sixth manager since being bought by Boehly and Clearlake Capital, a private equity fund managed by Behdad Eghbali and José E Feliciano. There was weariness at the training ground as staff readied themselves for more upheaval. Players were shocked and saddened to lose Pochettino.
But Chelsea are standing by their decision and have rejected suggestions that they are looking to appoint a manager who can be controlled by the hierarchy. It is understood that the aim is to employ a manager who is willing to take suggestions on board from experts in the medical, recruitment and technical departments. It was felt that Pochettino, who was cold on Chelsea bringing in a set-piece coach, was reluctant to adapt his ways.
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Chelsea also looked beyond a late improvement in the team’s form when they conducted an end-of-season review. They had hoped to qualify for the Champions League and were disappointed at dropped points against Burnley and Sheffield United. There was also concern about the side’s defending and the chaotic nature of their games – including the nervy 2-1 win over Bournemouth last Sunday.