Chelsea TV host criticizes’very weird’ Kieran McKenna move

Chelsea TV’s Jason Cundy has questioned the club’s pursuit of Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna.

Todd Boehly and his Clearlake consortium have begun the search for Mauricio Pochettino’s successor, after parting ways with the Argentine earlier this week.

Despite finishing the season strongly, Boehly and Chelsea’s top decision-makers were unable to reconcile their differences with Pochettino, and an amicable split was reached.

Chelsea has since been connected with a number of prospective contenders to fill the vacancy, but McKenna is swiftly establishing himself as the favorite.

The 38-year-old oversaw Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League after earning a reputation as one of the game’s greatest young coaches while at Manchester United.

Chelsea are expected to face competition for McKenna from United if Erik ten Hag is fired following Saturday’s FA Cup final, and Brighton have identified the Northern Irishman as a potential successor for Roberto De Zerbi.

Despite his evident credentials, Cundy worries that a move to Chelsea at this juncture of his career may be too much for McKenna, who could end up like Graham Potter, who failed to last a complete season in charge at Stamford Bridge.

‘It seems totally absurd to think that this time last year he was only just managing in League One, that he got Ipswich promoted from League One, and now he’s being linked with Manchester United and Chelsea,’ Cundy told talkSPORT.

‘I thought Brighton were a big enough step for him to say, ‘Yes, absolutely, I’m leaving’.

‘It appears that he will not sign a new deal with Ipswich; he is currently the flavour of the month.

‘I’d find that a really unusual appointment. I can’t say I’d be thrilled because he’s an unknown quantity. He has never managed a game in the Premier League.

Ipswich’s manager has done an excellent job. Ipswich Town are a big club, but only in League One.

‘We’ve seen how [Graham] Potter kind of struggled with the step up. Watch this space.’