Next Chelsea manager: Newcastle United's rivals already 'in talks' with 'first-choice' candidate

Newcastle United’s Premier League rivals Chelsea are reportedly in talks with Kieran McKenna’s representatives as they can continue their search for a Mauricio Pochettino replacement.

Pochettino, 52, led Chelsea to a sixth place finish in his first season, which was one position and three points ahead of Newcastle, who narrowly missed out on a Europa League spot.

After an underwhelming start, the Argentine appeared to be getting Chelsea back on an upwards trajectory after January, but Blues owner Todd Boehly now once again finds himself on the hunt for a ‘young dynamic manager’, who can implement and oversee a progressive playing style, which can further harness the talents of youngster such as Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson.

Football Insider claims McKenna’s performance in his first managerial role at Ipswich Town has put him very-much on the Chelsea’s radar, while the Guardian adds that he is the team’s ‘preferred option’ ahead of the likes of former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, who have also been linked.

McKenna kick-started his coaching career with Tottenham Hotspur U18s and assumed a similar role with Manchester United in 2016.  In his second year with the youth team, he guided the young Red Devils to the Premier League Northern Division title and harnessed the talents of Angel Gomes, Mason Greenwood, Tahith Chong and Matej Kovar, who have all gone on to play in the top-flight.

McKenna’s talents as a coach caught the attention of serial-winner Jose Mourinho, who himself was a protege of former Magpies and Ipswich Town boss Bobby Robson. McKenna served as assistant coach for three years and gained experience from working with the likes of Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 38-year-old went solo as a manager in 2021 and has quickly established himself as one of the country’s brightest young managers by winning back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League and returning Ipswich to the top-flight for the first time since 2002.

McKenna’s stock is currently at an all-time high after his achievements and the Athletic expects both Brighton and Chelsea to show interest in him in the coming days.

The young coach's existing deal at Portman Road runs until 2027 and reports have claimed that he is likely to reject any new and improved contract at this time amidst the uncertainty.

Chelsea will be determined to hire a new coach quickly as they prepare for another busy transfer window. While Ipswich will want clarity over McKenna’s future as soon as possible as they prepare for their first top-flight campaign in 22 years.

Addressing his future, he said after winning the LMA Manager of the Year award: “The club [Ipswich] has had an incredible two years and when you have those two years there is always speculation. I know how much everyone is looking forward to the season ahead.

“When you do well as a manager or as a player there is always going to be speculation. When you achieve what we have, there is always going to be speculation. That is not where my focus is. It has been a wonderful couple of years and I know everyone is looking forward to next season.”