Chelsea join Brighton and Man Utd in eyeing Ipswich Town swoop | OneFootball

Premier League outfit Chelsea have made contact with Kieran McKenna's camp ahead of a potential swoop for him, according to yesterday evening's report from The Guardian.

The Northern Irishman has done an excellent job at Ipswich Town, guiding them to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League and standing out as one of the finest, if not the best, managers in the EFL.

Managing to squeeze the best out of his team since replacing Paul Cook, McKenna has been a major success at Portman Road and looks set to guide the Tractor Boys into the 2024/25 campaign, as things stand.

The 38-year-old hasn't exactly been starved of resources, but he wasn't exactly given a massive budget to spend last summer, making promotion an even more impressive achievement.

Able to secure second place at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, they have been able to prevent the likes of Leeds United and Southampton from gaining automatic promotion.

Both have top-quality squads and parachute payments - and that just reinforces how well Ipswich did to secure their place in the top tier of English football.

However, it's unclear how long the Tractor Boys will be able to hold on to McKenna for.

Premier League sides circling for Kieran McKenna

The Blues are now thought to have taken an interest in McKenna, despite the fact they have put in some decent shifts under Mauricio Pochettino in recent times.

It's fair to say that Pochettino's side haven't enjoyed a great season, but some key figures in the boardroom are keen to see the Argentine remain at Stamford Bridge.

However, some seem to be more sceptical, and that has thrown his future into doubt.

The club are set to meet Pochettino early next week, and with the Blues reportedly making contact with McKenna's representatives, those talks could prove to be fascinating.

Chelsea aren't the only team to have taken an interest in McKenna though, with Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester United also thought to have taken an interest in the Northern Irishman.

The Blues could potentially pursue a move for the 38-year-old though, with their interest cooling in Roberto De Zerbi and the club unsure about whether Ruben Amorim would be a good fit for them.

Kieran McKenna needs to be firmly focused on Ipswich Town

McKenna has done an excellent job at Portman Road - and he must focus on his current approach until a formal approach is made by a club.

Right now, the Northern Irishman is likely to be relaxing before pre-season, although his appearance at a game after the Championship season ended shows he's already got one eye on next term.

It's not worth thinking about another team unless it's actually likely to happen and at this stage, it seems as though the Tractor Boys haven't been approached about McKenna and his availability.

If this approach is made by a top-tier giant, that will be the time for McKenna to weigh up whether moving would be the right option.

Considering United and the Blues have been very disappointing in recent years, with the Red Devils job arguably a poisoned chalice, Brighton may be the most attractive destination.

But staying at Ipswich wouldn't be a bad option either, especially if he is given a sizeable budget to work with.