Chelsea FC is on the hunt for a new manager after parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino by mutual agreement.
According to a BBC Sport report on Thursday, the club has zeroed in on three main candidates: Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town, Enzo Maresca from Leicester City, and Brentford’s Thomas Frank.
Kieran McKenna, 38, has caught Chelsea’s attention after leading Ipswich Town to a successful promotion from the Championship this season.
Chelsea has already initiated contact with him, though they face competition from Brighton and Manchester United. If McKenna joins Chelsea, it would require a compensation fee exceeding £4 million.
Enzo Maresca, 44, is another strong contender. Maresca recently guided Leicester City to the Championship title and has significant experience as a coach under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, bolstering his credentials for the Chelsea job.
Thomas Frank, 50, is also in the running. The Danish coach has been praised for his achievements with Brentford, leading them to promotion to the Premier League and maintaining their status in the top flight.
In addition to these three, there is speculation about a fourth, unnamed candidate on Chelsea’s shortlist. Despite initial interest in Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness, it seems he will remain in Germany.
With pre-season training set to begin on July 4, Chelsea is keen to finalize their managerial appointment soon. The team, which finished sixth in the Premier League and as runners-up in the Carabao Cup last season, is preparing for a tour of the United States under the leadership of their forthcoming manager.