Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is no longer in contention to become Chelsea’s next manager.
The 38-year-old was initially on a shortlist of candidates to replace Mauricio Pochettino, who departed the club by mutual consent last week.
The leading remaining candidates are former Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi, Leicester's Enzo Maresca, and Brentford's Thomas Frank.
Former Manchester United assistant manager McKenna, who led Ipswich to promotion from the Championship, is still being linked with a return to Old Trafford if FA Cup winners United sack Erik ten Hag, as well as with manager-less Brighton.
Ipswich are keen to retain McKenna and are expected to offer him a new contract, although he is unlikely to renew his deal.
McKenna is contracted to Ipswich until 2027, and any club will need to pay at least £4m in compensation.
De Zerbi and Maresca are interested in a move to Stamford Bridge, but the details of talks with Frank, who has also been linked with United, are less clear.
Chelsea hope to appoint a manager in the next week, but this will depend on negotiations around a compensation fee for the new manager's current club.