Town boss Kieran McKenna is one of Chelsea’s top targets as they look to replace Mauricio Pochettino, who left by mutual consent earlier this week.

TWTD understands Leicester’s Enzo Maresca heads the Stamford Bridge club’s wishlist but with McKenna, currently the favourite with most bookies, also a very serious contender.

Ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi is joint-favourite alongside McKenna with some bookmakers.

Former Hull City boss Liam Rosenior is perhaps surprisingly another of those who is viewed as a potential successor to Pochettino, while Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness, Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim and Girona’s Michel have also been linked.

Chelsea are understood to want to make their appointment quickly, while the less than smooth manner in which the club has been run in latter years will presumably give any of the candidates pause for thought before accepting the role.

Town meanwhile, are determined to do everything they can to keep McKenna at Portman Road with a new contract offer seeming inevitable, although with claims of a lucrative deal already being on the table believed to be premature.

Claims that McKenna is dead set on moving on from Town this summer appear similarly speculative.

Of the clubs understood to be interested in prising McKenna from Town following the Blues’ back-to-back promotions, Chelsea are believed to be the one most favoured by his representatives due to existing relationships between the two.

Early frontrunner Brighton’s move for the Northern Irishman seems to be on the back burner at the present time, while Francesco Farioli, recommended to the Seagulls by the exiting De Zerbi, is now widely reported to be joining Ajax from Nice.

The situation at Manchester United, also thought to have their former first-team coach on a list of potential next bosses, is likely to become clearer following Saturday’s FA Cup final with Erik ten Hag’s future in the balance.

Taking the rumour mill full circle, Pochettino has been linked with the Old Trafford job should Ten Hag depart.

Photo: TWTD

Bluepool added 08:03 - May 23 As has been previously stated, MA and KMc need to come out and put this to bed one way or the other, It's easy to read between the lines with KMc previous comments and those being reported now but as supporters this is very disconcerting and we need to have answers very soon
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OliveR16 added 08:03 - May 23 For me the most plausible explanation is that ManU have indicated to him that stuff will change following the Cup Final. This explains why he seems to be on the way out but nothing is being said. Brighton and Chelsea are just useful diversions while he waits. He's so well known at ManU that they could have the deal lined up already. And I wouldn't be surprised is MA has done the same with someone.

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Bluepool added 08:04 - May 23 As has been previously stated, MA and KMc need to come out and put this to bed one way or the other, It's easy to read between the lines with KMc previous comments and those being reported now but as supporters this is very disconcerting and we need to have answers very soon
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Sandman180 added 08:09 - May 23 @Fromipswichtophoenix - you mention who goes with him, on paper, not one of our players gets into any of the sides he's been linked with, that's a fact. McKenna improved the team markedly by implementing a set way of play, which the nucleus of the group took to - that's largely been the key to the success the past few years, as squad wise, we're inferior to all the premier league teams, including those we'll be heading up with. I'd be more concerned at someone coming in and these players having to adjust to a new system, a new vibe behind the scenes, and so on - that would be to our detriment, every player in the team is replaceable, losing that togetherness we've had the past few years.. not so much. Regardless of how we feel, this needs to be resolved as soon as possible - all this speculation is just unsettling for everyone.

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:24 - May 23 feeling very deflated , from being on a high.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:26 - May 23 Of course, I still hope he will stay. I could understand him going to ManU because of his long connections with that club, and he would go with my blessing. Brighton and Chelski? Both bad choices for different reasons. If we do get a new man in like Rob Edwards (and incidentally do to Luton what another team would have done to us - there's little sentiment in football) then it might not be all negative. While I'm sure K McK would be pragmatic, it might still be difficult for him to replace players whom he has formed such a bond with, but there's no doubt some of our squad would struggle at the new leve. A new manager would not have quite the same attachment. And for the record, I think RE is a really good guy. If we had to replace Kieran, I'd be very happy to have him instead. All will no doubt soon be revealed - perhaps after the Cup Final when Utd get rid of Ten Hag.

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Stato added 08:31 - May 23 For Utd he could be their next Alex Ferguson and be there for a couple of decades. Are INEOS clever enough to see the potential? Utd is too big to turn down and after TH is a great time to take the job. We'll know more after the Cup Final but hopefully they prefer the experience of Poch
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astrofud added 08:44 - May 23 RTE (Ireland) saying this morning that he’s not signing a new contract because of interest elsewhere. Again don’t know where they’re getting their info
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backwaywhen added 08:45 - May 23 Phil Has any of these clubs officially approached Ipswich asking for permission to speak to KM or is all this purely bookies spreadsheets and rumour mill ……asking for lots of friends.
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budgieplucker added 09:00 - May 23 Read elsewhere that Chelsea have supposedly officially approached Town to talk to Kieron. He is ambitious and Chelsea have a lot of good young players so I can see him relishing that challenge. I think “Potch” has been on Man U hit list for sometime but the timing has never been convenient before, so I think he is a shoe in for the Man U job now he is free. I will wish Kieron all the very best and sad and disappointed if he goes but his inner confidence and steely ambition I believe will move him up the ladder, he really doesn’t owe us anything and we owe him everything, so I respect any decision he makes for the sake of his family and future. If he thinks he can go right to the top then that’s a challenge he may not be able to refuse. Yes keeping us in the premiership is also a big challenge but our squad isn’t strong enough to perhaps move forward at the pace Kieron would perhaps wish. Michael Carrick would be my number one target, similar style to Kieron and having worked together will be able to take the club forward. A jump from Championship to Premiership must be seen as a good move for him. Not quite as spectacular at Middlesbrough as Kieron at Ipswich but got them in the playoffs last season and recovered exceptionally well this season after a poor start. Not sure I like the Rob Edwards link, great guy but would his style suit our team!!!

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barrystedmunds added 09:11 - May 23 Contracts are not worth the paper they’re written on! When multi billionaire owners splash the cash, they become next to worthless!
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ArnieM added 09:12 - May 23 Good shout re Carrick !
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Rimsy added 09:15 - May 23 We just need it sorted. Funnily enough, I'd be much more concerned if it was Mark Ashton leaving. If KMc goes we will still have stable leadership and I trust MA to get us the right man to take us forward. KMc has already gone down massively in my estimation, I expected him to handle himself (his agents) better.
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Tractorboy58 added 09:16 - May 23 Let's get real - McKenna has been great for us, but the whole club, players and supporters have been just as important. Nobody is irreplacable and if that is what he wants then good luck and goodbye ! but please sort it ASAP as we need to get going on plans for next season
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Theipswich added 09:21 - May 23 He isn't gong anywhere chaps......he will be here come August..you'll see..
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Texastom added 09:33 - May 23 Just go McKenna you are upsetting us all at ITFC especially fans.
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mathiemagic added 09:34 - May 23 I was in the @TheIpswich camp until this started to drag on. There can be no smoke without fire I suppose. Who would replace him is the question?
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Europablue added 09:38 - May 23 If it's Utd. he goes with my blessing. He left Utd. with the intention to go back there. The other options are upsetting. In the worst case scenario he goes to Chelsea, is sacked by Christmas and we're almost down already and he moves to Leeds and keeps them up at our expense. I think maybe we should all take a break from this until Monday, and see what the situation is at Utd. You could easily see McKenna being chosen as the Utd. manager who will be given two years to remold the club with the goal of being the next SAF.

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bucket99 added 09:43 - May 23 We've gone way beyond the point where Mark Ashton should have made a statement. Or even Kieran.
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JPR77 added 09:50 - May 23 He'll last 12 months at Chelsea and Brighton seem to be on slide since their European anticipation and some key members of their squad now getting on. A move to Man United is the only move that makes any sense to me, being his boyhood club and he knows his way about having worked their previously, probably already knows what he wants to implement. Plus they're in a similar position to us when MA/KMC took us over, it's probably a win win situation for him. At the start of the week, I'd have bet on him staying. Not so sure now. It will be heart breaking if he does go.

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PackwoodBlue added 09:52 - May 23 OliveR16, That's pretty much what I was thinking. Out of respect for Ten Hag and not to upset the apple cart too much before the huge cup final, I think they may be keeping a pretty much done deal, under wraps. Hence the speculation that he is expected to reject a new deal with Town. Utd would be a better move for him than the other two.
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PMK added 10:06 - May 23 I hope we can get Potter in if he does leave. Who does everybody else want??
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BobbyBell added 10:25 - May 23 Common sense says stay here. You love the club and the area. You have a young family and amazing support from the owners and Mark Ashton. You are still young and can have a massive career ahead of you without being in a rush. Why walk away from a dream job and security to go into a pressure cooker where demands are high and jobs don't last long?
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grumpyoldman added 10:29 - May 23 How can he or the club make a statement that he is staying? They could put it out, then a massive fee being offered along with a massive contract and he would be off. We as supporters can only watch & wait until there is an announcement or pre-season starts.
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Dissboyitfc added 10:34 - May 23 Budgieplucker… totally disagree he owes it to us to finish the project! He won those awards and should be thanking us for giving him the opportunity to manage this wonderful club!
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