McKenna’s Ipswich finished second in the Championship this season, amassing 96 points from 46 games and suffering just six defeats across the long and gruelling campaign.

Brighton have also been linked with a move for the former Man United and Tottenham youth coach and confirmed on Saturday that current boss Roberto De Zerbi was on his way out.

Pochettino has hinted he could leave Stamford Bridge on more than one occasion this season but attempted to clarify his comments ahead of their final-day clash against Bournemouth.

Asked about his future, the Argentine said: ‘We are planning. We are working. We cannot take some comment from my side [before the Forest game] in a negative way. Always I try to be positive and try to translate my feelings to the people.

‘I never said I’m not thinking in the future. Already the plan is there to start pre-season. In the end, it’s not in my hands to be here or not to be here.

‘We [the coaching staff] are not fake people. We are not going to say we love something when we still don’t have an emotional link.

‘It’s easy for me to arrive and after the first game start to kiss the badge. I respect the people who can do this, but it’s not my nature. I want to create real feelings.’

Pochettino is due to meet up with Chelsea directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley next week but any final decision over the 52-year-old will be signed off by the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership group.

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