Hoeness SebastianHoeness SebastianHoeness is being monitored / GettyImages / Alexander HassensteinThe absurd job Sebastian Hoeness did at Stuttgart this season was eclipsed by Bayer Leverkusen’s dominance in the Bundesliga.

In his first full season with the team, the 42-year-old moved Stuttgart up to second place in the standings, ahead of Bayern Munich and trailing just the formidable Xabi Alonso. It’s a good sign if you can guide a squad past Bayern.

In just his fourth season as a manager, he has already made an impression with his combination of three- and four-man defenses. Serhou Guirassy has scored 28 goals and Deniz Undav has scored 18.

Despite Bayern Munich’s interest, Hoeness has stated openly that he does not want to leave Stuttgart; nevertheless, a project outside of Germany might elicit a different reaction.

McKenna KieranKieran McKenna/Stephen Pond/GettyImages McKenna’s ascent has been swift.Just now, Kieran McKenna, who many Manchester United players believed was more of a hindrance than a benefit when he was a member of the team, accomplished one of the most absurd things in English football.

After leading Ipswich Town to promotion from League One in 2022–2023; twelve months later, McKenna inspired yet another promotion, this time leading the Tractor Boys to the Premier League, as they overcame Southampton and Leeds United to take the final automatic promotion position.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United, where McKenna previously worked, has been linked to a return, but Chelsea is rumored to have been thrilled by his achievements as well, and for good reason.

Omari Hutchinson, a loanee who returned to Cobham this week after scoring ten goals to help Ipswich’s push for promotion, has already established a link with Chelsea.

Kompany Vincent

Relegated with Burnley / Catherine Ivill – AMA/GettyImages was Vincent Kompany.Yes, Burnley recently demoted Vincent Kompany. We are aware of that. But just take a moment to look past that.

After his brilliant season in the Championship with Burnley, where he shown he could play some fantastic football with a team blessed with more skill than most of the division, Kompany made Chelsea’s final shortlist prior to Pochettino’s hiring.

The fact that Burnley was no longer the big fish in the tiny pond clearly soured things, but Chelsea’s owners might still find Kompany intriguing as a potential second opportunity at managing a team that should be near the top of the table the following season.

Bayern Munich is snooping about Kompany, so Chelsea might need to move quickly to close this deal.

Michel’Michel’ Miguel Angel SanchezIn La Liga, Michel has made an impression | Alex Caparros/GettyImagesGirona appeared capable of winning the title for a significant portion of the La Liga season, and Michel was largely responsible for that.

Before their momentum eventually ran out, Girona, who had finished tenth in their first year back in the top division, burst this time around and gave the Clasico big boys serious worries. Girona was promoted to La Liga ahead of the 2022–2023 season.

The squad had no right to be as successful as they were this year, and many have been quick to blame Michel for it, as like many others on this list, he is not beyond adjusting his formations to suit various situations.

If Michel is interested, it could be very easy to close the trade because Girona would not be able to compete financially with Chelsea’s offer.

Thomas Tuchel

Thomas TuchelIs a comeback imminent? / Stefan Matzke – sampics/GettyImagesCould Chelsea’s owners make a complete 180-degree turn and make Thomas Tuchel an offer?

Although Tuchel may not match the stereotype of a “young, progressive” player, he does have an incredibly deep bond with Chelsea’s supporters—something the club’s owners should be all over as they guide the team through its most recent period of turmoil.

This season, Tuchel’s reputation has been all over the place, but he managed to save it with a good Champions League performance with Bayern Munich, who were pleased to come running back to him when they realized they couldn’t find a better choice. Do you recognize this?

According to reports in Germany, Tuchel would welcome a reunion, although he’s also reportedly interested in the Manchester United position.

Zerbi RobertoZerbi Roberto

After departing Brighton, De Zerbi is available / Charlie Crowhurst/GettyImagesRoberto De Zerbi is no longer at Brighton & Hove Albion, although he is still available (for free).

The Italian dominated English football and appeared poised for a major role this summer before his Brighton team collapsed and finished the season in 11th place, but there are still glimpses of his abilities.

De Zerbi will have no shortage of offers in a summer when many elite teams are searching for new managers; but, Chelsea’s owners must decide if he’s the appropriate guy for their ambition.

They seem to adore everything Brighton has touched over the past ten or so years, but it’s unclear if they feel the same way about the management.

Amorim Ruben

Europe is filled with supporters of Ruben Amorim Amorim. / Getty Images/Gualter FatiaFor the past two years or so, it appears as though Ruben Amorim is about to make a significant move, but for some reason, things keep falling through.

There’s obviously reluctance in the Stamford Bridge boardroom after Chelsea passed on the Sporting CP manager after the previous season, but his championship-winning campaign might have convinced them otherwise.

Any team that signs Amоrim this summer will prоbably alsо end up with striker Viktоr Gyоkeres, tо further sweeten the pоt. There’s a strоng pоssibility the Swede wоuld be оpen tо a reuniоn sоmewhere else, given his agency has already indicated they оnly jоined Spоrting tо wоrk with Amоrim.

He has a €20 million release clause in his contract, and since Chelsea did not make it to the Champions League, they would not be eligible for the €10 million discount.

Conceicao SergioSérgio Conceição Conceicao has been associated with several elite teams. / GettyImages/Eurasian Sport PhotosRemaining in Portugal, Chelsea would be inclined to pick up the phone and give Porto’s three-time league champion Sergio Conceicao a call.

The 49-yeаr-оld Cоnceicао hаs been аssоciаted with Bаrcelоnа while Xаvi’s future remаins uncleаr. Frоm а tаcticаl stаndpоint, it wоuld be а significаnt depаrture fоr the Cаtаlаn teаm, аnd Chelseа’s оwners will need tо determine whether they wаnt tо try his 4-4-2 fоrmаtiоn.

Even thоugh he still has fоur years left оn his cоntract, he’s already the secоnd-mоst successful manager in Pоrtuguese fооtball histоry and might be drawn tо the prоspect оf a fresh challenge.

Conceicao was interested in moving to the Premier League when he signed with Porto; in 2017, he almost succeeded Claudio Ranieri at Leicester, so Chelsea may be hoping he was still inclined in that direction.