Chelsea Actively Considering £8m Coaching Candidates
Chelsea are on the lookout for an “energetic” coach to lead their youthful squad into the new season. Journalist Ben Jacobs of GIVEMESPORT reports that Chelsea are considering Enzo Maresca from Leicester City and Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town as potential head coaches. Compensation for Maresca is approximately double that of McKenna.
This search follows the recent departure of Mauricio Pochettino, the club’s fourth manager in two years. Both Maresca and McKenna have had successful seasons in the Championship, leading their respective teams to promotion to the Premier League.
McKenna, 38, is currently contracted with Ipswich until 2027 but may be enticed by a move to a larger club, with interest also coming from Manchester United and Brighton.
Maresca, 44, led Leicester to the Championship title this season and could be on the move, with Porto also showing interest in him.
The London club sees both Maresca and McKenna as top contenders for the managerial position. Both have release clauses in their contracts, which could simplify the negotiation process.
According to Jacobs, McKenna’s release clause is estimated at £3-4 million, while Maresca’s is around £8 million.
McKenna has previously worked as an assistant manager at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Maresca has experience with Manchester City’s development team, leading them to a Premier League 2 title in 2021, and has coached Parma in Serie A.
Maresca’s recent performance at Leicester has been impressive. During the 2023/24 Championship season, he managed 46 matches with 31 wins, 4 draws, and 11 losses, averaging 2.11 points per match.
Despite joining Leicester just a year ago, the Italian coach is now contemplating another career move, having been described as “exceptional” by Leicester midfielder Harry Winks.
Roberto De Zerbi, another Italian manager, is also linked with the Chelsea job. De Zerbi, who left Brighton at the end of the season, has been associated with several top clubs, including Manchester United, AC Milan, and Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s interest in De Zerbi is fueled by his desire to continue working in the Premier League. He led Brighton to a sixth-place finish last season, their best ever, after taking charge in September 2022.
As Chelsea looks to finalize their managerial appointment, both Maresca and McKenna present compelling options, each bringing a blend of experience and potential to Stamford Bridge.
