Manchester United have entered the race to appoint Kieran McKenna and have met with the representatives of the Ipswich Town manager.
McKenna is one of English football’s hottest coaching properties after leading Ipswich to back-to-back promotions, inheriting a team struggling in the third tier in December 2021 before leading The Tractor Boys into the Premier League for the first time since 2001/02 this season.
Chelsea have made the 38-year-old a leading candidate to replace Mauricio Pochettino, who has left his role at Stamford Bridge following an end-of-season review of the club’s campaign.
However, Sky Sports have revealed that Chelsea could face competition from Manchester United who are making contingency plans should Erik ten Hag be sacked.
The Dutchman has come under pressure after the club’s lowest league finish in the Premier League era and a decision will be made on his future after this weekend’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
McKenna is understood to be an option to replace Ten Hag, having previously spent five years on the coaching staff at Old Trafford. McKenna was appointed manager of the club’s u-18 side in 2016 and later had spells working as an assistant to Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
McKenna’s knowledge of the club and eye-catching tenure at Ipswich have made him an attractive candidate for United and the Red Devils’ new chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox met with McKenna’s representatives last week to discuss the prospect of him taking charge.
Brighton also want McKenna to replace Roberto De Zerbi on the south coast but face a fight to convince him given interest from higher up the division.
Meanwhile, Ipswich are desperate for McKenna to remain at Portman Road as the club prepare for their first top-flight campaign in over two decades.
