The Blues surprised many when revealing that Argentine tactician Pochettino would be allowed to walk away from Stamford Bridge on the back of a sixth-place finish in the Premier League. While the 2023-24 campaign was not always plain sailing in west London, a run of five successive wins at the end of the season hinted at a brighter future being enjoyed.

A new coach is required to pick up that baton, with The Athletic claiming that Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca and Brentford’s Thomas Frank are now the only names on Chelsea’s ever-shortening list. That is because Ipswich boss McKenna – fresh from overseeing an automatic promotion push out of the Championship – is not being considered following talks with the 38-year-old Northern Irishman.

He is held in high regard but other, more experienced options are now being explored.