Chelsea have drawn up a shortlist of managers to replace Mauricio Pochettino as they begin their search for a third permanent manager within two years.
Ruben Amorim, Kieran McKenna and Sebastian Hoeness are the leading candidates, with Michel and Enzo Maresca also of interest.
Amorim has been linked with a number of Premier League jobs, Ipswich’s McKenna is also of interest to former club Manchester United and Hoeness is considered the next big thing in German coaching. The latter two have connections with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.
Here’s Malik Ouzia to run the rule over the favoured five...
Ruben Amorim
The Sporting boss was at one stage favourite for the Liverpool gig, but was overlooked in favour of Arne Slot.
One of Europe's most highly-rated young managers, he recently vowed to stay and lead the club's push for a third straight Portuguese title following talks with West Ham.
An offer from Chelsea might yet upset that plan, but there are reservations that his philosophy does not match the make-up of Chelsea's young squad.
Kieran McKenna
In a timely recognition of his talents, the Ipswich boss last night beat the likes of Pep Guardiola and Unai Emery to be named LMA Manager of the Year by his peers, having led the Tractor Boys back into the top flight via successive promotions, playing scintillating football.
The leap to Stamford Bridge would be a huge one for the 38-year-old, though, and Chelsea are not alone as suitors, with Brighton and Manchester United both also keen.
Sebastian Hoeness
When Hoeness took over at Stuttgart in April last year, they were bottom of the Bundesliga and stayed up only via a relegation play-off. This season, they finished second to unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen, sneaking ahead of Bayern Munich on the final day.
The nephew of Bayern and Germany great Uli Hoeness is, therefore, considered the rising star of German coaching, but might be tempted to stay on, given Stuttgart will be in the Champions League for the first time in 15 years next season.
Michel
For the first half of this season, Michel's Girona side were La Liga's pace-setters, top of the league at the end of January before fading into third as Real Madrid, inevitably, pulled away.
The Spaniard employs the same kind of technical, suffocating possession game as the likes of Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola and, given Girona are part of the City Football Group, it is no surprise he has been touted as a potential successor to the latter at the Etihad.
Enzo Maresca
Speak of City links, Guardiola's assistant during the treble-winning campaign is another on the Blues' radar, having defied a mid-season dip to lead Leicester back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Like McKenna, he may face a choice between jumping ship while his stock is at its peak or staying put, potentially to face a top-flight relegation battle. That the Foxes could face a points deduction next season makes the latter less appealing.
