Ipswich Town: Pundit touts Kieran McKenna for Liverpool job over Man Utd | OneFootball

EFL Pundit and former England international Carlton Palmer has said that Kieran McKenna would take the manager’s job at Manchester United or Liverpool if they approached him.

McKenna is currently in charge at Ipswich Town in the Championship, and he has them fighting for automatic promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking, having been promoted from League One last season.

Being such a young coach doing such an unbelievable job, it means that he has reportedly garnered plenty of interest from some of the biggest clubs in the country.

According to Football Insider, Manchester United have concrete interest in the 37-year-old, and are admirers of him. He previously worked at the club as part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before leaving to take up the Ipswich role.

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has also tipped McKenna for the Liverpool job, touting him as a ‘dark horse’ to replace Jurgen Klopp when he departs Anfield at the end of the season.

Palmer gives verdict on McKenna rumours

Speaking exclusively to FLW, Palmer said: “Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town’s manager, has been linked with both the Manchester United and the Liverpool job. He is seen as an outsider for both.

“McKenna has impressed as being head coach of Ipswich, now on the verge of maybe completing back-to-back promotions, getting Ipswich promoted from League One to the Championship, and are now on the verge of getting Ipswich promoted to the Premier League.

“There is no coincidence that the work he has done at Ipswich hasn’t gone unnoticed by both of these football clubs. He has done a fantastic job. He is a former coach of Manchester United.

“I think it wouldn’t be too soon for him, he’s done a fantastic job, and the recruitment he has done has been magnificent. The job I would think that would appeal to him more would be Liverpool because Jurgen Klopp is leaving a very, very good team at the end of the season. Whereas with Manchester United, it’s an exciting project that is going to happen under Sir Jim Radcliffe, but that is going to take time because the team needs rebuilding. They are a long, long way short of being able to challenge for the Premier League.

“But it’s not too soon at all, and I'm not surprised that the top clubs are looking at him. Now would he stay at Ipswich if Ipswich are promoted? Yes, he’s got the backers that are financially backing him, but the opportunity to manage two giant clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool would prove too difficult for him to turn down if they came knocking.”

Ipswich would find it hard to keep McKenna should Manchester United and Liverpool offer him the job

There is no doubt that McKenna has done an incredible job since taking over at Portman Road in December 2021.

To take the Tractor Boys back to the second tier in his first full season was a great achievement, but to potentially secure back-to-back promotions to the Premier League.

His brilliant season so far has been recognised by the EFL, who have nominated him for the Championship Manager of the Year award.

It has to be said though, if Manchester United or Liverpool do offer him the chance to be manager, he has to take it.

His rise from being a sports scientist at Loughborough University to potentially managing one of the biggest clubs in the world would be exceptional.

Both jobs would be too good to turn down from a financial perspective but also the opportunity to manage either one of the two biggest clubs in England cannot be understated.

It will be interesting to see whether McKenna will still be at Ipswich, no matter what division they find themselves in, come the beginning of next season.