Chelsea has quickly narrowed its shortlist to replace Mauricio Pochettino, reducing the list from six to four names just two days after the Argentine head coach’s departure.
Pochettino left the West London club on Tuesday after nearly a year in charge, despite a commendable season that saw Chelsea finish sixth in the Premier League. His departure has reportedly surprised many players, who were disappointed to see him leave after a season of notable progress despite dealing with numerous injuries.
Chelsea’s search for a new manager aims to find someone young and forward-thinking, capable of leading the club to success with an attractive, possession-oriented style of play. Shortly after Pochettino’s exit, Chelsea’s initial list of preferred candidates emerged, and it has now been narrowed down further.
The current shortlist includes Kieran McKenna of Ipswich, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, and Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca. A fourth candidate remains unidentified, but it’s clear that Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Girona’s Michel are no longer in the running.
Among the candidates, Thomas Frank is highly regarded due to his Premier League experience, which could give him an advantage. Both McKenna and Maresca have achieved rapid promotions from the Championship, with McKenna leading Ipswich to consecutive promotions and Maresca starting his tenure at Leicester at the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
Chelsea faces competition for McKenna, as Brighton is also interested in him following Roberto De Zerbi’s departure. Brighton considers McKenna their top choice and is optimistic about securing his services despite Chelsea’s interest. Ipswich, meanwhile, is keen to retain McKenna, who is expected to reject a new contract offer, but the compensation required to release him is estimated to be between £4 million and £6 million.
If Thomas Frank were to move to Chelsea, it would reunite him with his former set-piece specialist Bernardo Cueva, who recently joined the Blues. Pochettino was previously skeptical about the need for a dedicated set-piece coach, which he dismissed earlier this year.
Chelsea’s next managerial appointment will mark the sixth under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-led BlueCo, who took over the club two years ago.
