Chelsea has identified Kieran McKenna, Enzo Maresca, and Thomas Frank as potential candidates for their next manager, according to a report by BBC Sport.
Mauricio Pochettino’s departure has been mutually agreed upon, and 38-year-old McKenna, who led Ipswich Town to promotion, has already been contacted. Chelsea faces competition from Brighton and Manchester United for his services, and a compensation fee exceeding £4 million would be required for McKenna to move to Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca, 44, who led Leicester to the Championship title and previously worked under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, is another strong contender.
Danish coach Thomas Frank, 50, is also a candidate, known for his success with Brentford in achieving promotion to the Premier League and maintaining their status.
In addition to these three, Chelsea reportedly has a fourth, undisclosed candidate on their shortlist. Although Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness was considered, he is now expected to remain in Germany.
With pre-season training set to begin on July 4, Chelsea aims to finalize their managerial appointment promptly. The team, which finished sixth in the Premier League and reached the Carabao Cup final last season, will soon embark on a tour of the United States under new leadership.