McKenna out of Chelsea job race

Kieran McKenna, the manager of Ipswich Town, has been ruled out as a potential candidate for the managerial position at Chelsea. 

Kieran McKenna, aged 38, was among the initial group of potential candidates considered to take over from Mauricio Pochettino, who departed the club through mutual agreement last week.

Three potential candidates are Roberto de Zerbi, Enzo Maresca, and Thomas Frank. De Zerbi, a former Brighton manager, has emerged as one of the leading contenders. 

Maresca, currently with Leicester, is also in the running. Another strong candidate is Frank, who is presently managing Brentford.

Amidst the uncertainty, there are rumours connecting former Manchester United assistant manager McKenna to a potential return to Old Trafford.

McKenna, who successfully led Ipswich to promotion from the Championship, is also being linked to manager-less Brighton. These speculations have emerged amidst talks of Erik ten Hag's potential departure from the FA Cup winners, adding to the intrigue of the situation.

Ipswich is keen on retaining McKenna and anticipates presenting him with a fresh contract despite the unlikelihood of him extending his current deal.

According to reports, the player in question has a contract with Ipswich that runs until 2027. Any potential club interested in acquiring his services will be required to pay a minimum of £4m in compensation. 

De Zerbi and Maresca are reportedly interested in a move to Stamford Bridge. At the same time, less information is available about the discussions with Frank, who has also been rumored to be linked with Manchester United. 

Chelsea is diligently working towards finalizing the appointment of a new manager within the next week. This decision is crucial for the club's future, and the process is contingent upon negotiations regarding the compensation fee that Chelsea will have to pay to the manager's current club.