Chelsea’s search for a new manager is about to come to an end.
Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca is their No.1 target and Fabrizio Romano has shared that the 44-year-old really likes Chelsea’s squad and is keen to take over it.
The likes of Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Brentford’s Thomas Frank were also linked with the job.
However, unless something dramatic happens, it looks like Maresca will be Mauricio Pochettino‘s successor.
Chelsea started their search for a new manager last Tuesday following Pochettino’s exit that day.
Who has Enzo Maresca beaten in the race to become Chelsea manager?
Maresca’s appointment as Chelsea boss now looks imminent, but the Italian has not got where he is now without having to compete against other managers.
Again, McKenna and Frank were also thought to have been in contention for the job.
However, according to Romano, Chelsea informed the former that he would not be their next manager by a “direct call” on Sunday night.
McKenna now looks set to remain at Ipswich.
As per Sky Sports, the 38-year-old is expected to stay at Portman Road and sign a new long-term contract there.
Were Chelsea right to snub Kieran McKenna?
McKenna did an excellent job at Ipswich this season, taking them to the Premier League after winning promotion.
It comes straight after their promotion to the Championship last term, so the Northern Irishman certainly looks capable of improving a lower-level team.
But Chelsea are obviously an elite side. The gig at Stamford Bridge would have come too early for McKenna.
Staying at Ipswich, where he has done a “remarkable” job, according to David Wagner, is probably what is best for him.
All in all, then, Chelsea have made the right decision overlooking McKenna and going after Maresca instead. However, with the Italian having not managed a big club before either, there will also be doubts about him. It is a gamble by Chelsea, but it is clear that they did not want to continue with Pochettino.