Ipswich Town: Simon Grayson makes Kieran McKenna, Man Utd claim | OneFootball

Former Leeds United and Sunderland manager Simon Grayson says he would be surprised if Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna was offered the Manchester United job this summer.

McKenna led Ipswich to promotion from League One last season, and his side have seamlessly made the step up to the Championship, spending much of this campaign in and around the automatic promotion places.

Despite failing to win any of their last three games, the Tractor Boys currently sit top of the table, one point clear of second-placed Leicester City and two points clear of third-placed Leeds.

It has been an incredible season for Ipswich, and McKenna was recognised for his achievements as he was named the Championship Manager of the Season at the EFL Awards on Sunday night.

The accolade further strengthens McKenna's reputation as one of the most exciting young managers in the game, and his excellent work at Portman Road has not gone unnoticed, with Football Insider claiming earlier this month that the 37-year-old was in contention for the Man United job.

United manager Erik ten Hag is under huge pressure after a disappointing campaign, and new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is facing a big decision on whether to stick with the Dutchman this summer.

McKenna has previously worked in the academy at Old Trafford, as well as serving as assistant to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and the Red Devils are said to have a "concrete" interest in bringing him back to the club as manager.

Grayson: Man United job would be too soon for Kieran McKenna

Grayson praised McKenna for the job he has done at Ipswich, but believes that it is too early in his career for him to take over at United.

"Unbelievable achievement, what Ipswich have done, and great that Kieran got the recognition of being Manager of the Year," Grayson said.

"It just shows you what can happen when you get a group together that know what they're doing.

"They go with a care-free attitude, they've got a good spirit about them, they know the roles and responsibility within that group, and they're enjoying it.

"It’s such a great achievement for what they've done, but they don't want to be looking back and they don't want to be reminded of being the team that did really well but just missed out. "Looking at McKenna’s next move, the Manchester United job is very likely to be far too early in his managerial career, but he has done no harm in being on their radar as one to follow. "McKenna has done a brilliant job getting Ipswich to the Championship and now to be in real contention for the Premier League, this is a huge achievement. "But if you get offered that kind of opportunity, you don’t turn it down.

"I would be surprised if he gets an offer for that job because there'll be a lot of other people with vast more experience than him, but you can never say never."

Kieran McKenna must stay at Ipswich Town this summer

It is difficult to disagree with Grayson that the United job could be too much for McKenna at this stage of his career, particularly considering the challenges he would face at Old Trafford.

McKenna has done an outstanding job at Ipswich, and there is no doubt he is destined to manage a big club in the future, but he should be cautious before leaving Portman Road.

With the Tractor Boys having vast financial resources, there is still plenty that McKenna could achieve at the club, and regardless of the outcome of this season, he should remain in Suffolk, but there is likely to be significant interest in his services this summer.

For now, McKenna will be fully focused on guiding Ipswich back to the Premier League, and they are three games away from completing what would be one of the most remarkable achievements in Championship history.