Chelsea have ended their pursuit of appointing Kieran McKenna as their new head coach, according to reports.

Initially, McKenna was considered a top candidate due to his impressive performance with Ipswich Town, where he led the team to back-to-back promotions, bringing them to the Premier League.

However, Chelsea don’t seem to be keen on fighting with Manchester United for their former assistant coach.

Brighton and Manchester United are still in the race for McKenna, with reports indicating that they are ready to meet his demands and offer substantial compensation to Ipswich.

Manchester United are massive favourites for McKenna, particularly if they decide to part ways with their current manager, Erik ten Hag.

Chelsea’s search for a new manager continues, with other candidates like Enzo Maresca and Roberto De Zerbi still in the picture.

Chelsea held talks with McKenna last week and despite having huge admiration for him, the Blues are now focusing on a group of candidates that does not include the former Manchester United assistant.