Kieran McKenna is reportedly waiting to hear from Manchester United amid his links with Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion.
According to a report by The Times, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion are interested in Kieran McKenna, with both Premier League clubs eager to fill their managerial vacancies by appointing the 38-year-old as their new head coach. However, the Ipswich Town boss is waiting for an approach from Manchester United if they sack Erik ten Hag.
Kieran McKenna has established himself as one of the best young managers in the world in the last few years. A former trainee in the Tottenham Hotspur youth division, his playing career ended early due to issues with his hip. The Northern Irishman entered the coaching sphere after his time as a footballer ended abruptly.
A native of London, he began his managerial career by taking charge of Tottenham’s under-18 team in 2015. However, the 38-year-old rose in prominence during his spell with Manchester United, first serving the club as a coach in the academy before joining the first-team staff during Jose Mourinho’s stint at Old Trafford.
McKenna continued as the assistant manager under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before branching out in 2021 by taking charge of Ipswich Town. Since then, the 38-year-old and the Tractor Boys have come leaps and bounds, enjoying successive promotions and returning to the Premier League after over two decades. So, it is hardly surprising that he has become a hot property in the market, with Chelsea and Manchester United vying for his signature.
Chelsea’s interest in Kieran McKenna is understandable. The Blues are scouring the market for a manager this summer after parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino this week. Several candidates have emerged on the West London club’s radar, with the Ipswich Town boss becoming the top target. However, he is waiting for an approach from Manchester United before committing to other clubs.
Speaking of Manchester United, the Red Devils will likely part ways with Erik ten Hag irrespective of the result in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. The Dutchman has failed to galvanise his squad this season, with Manchester United finishing in the eighth spot in the Premier League standings and bowing out of the EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League in the early stages.
With Manchester United expected to part ways with Erik ten Hag in the coming days, securing Kieran McKenna’s services might be possible. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can beat the Red Devils and Brighton & Hove Albion to the 38-year-old highly-rated manager.
