Kieran Mckenna waiting for Manchester United’s call despite Chelsea’s approach | OneFootball

It has been a disastrous season for Manchester United with the team finishing eighth in the Premier League, their lowest-ever, while also getting dumped out of Europe at the first time of asking.

A perennial injury crisis has not helped but it has been manager Erik ten Hag’s flawed chaos ball style of play and his stubbornness to not acknowledge the error of his ways and persist with it throughout the campaign that has cost the team dearly.

New co-owners INEOS are not too pleased with the flawed playing style and have plans of their own regarding adopting a new methodology and recruitment and they are prepared to do away with the Dutch manager.

Saturday’s FA Cup final is the only reason the former Ajax coach is still in the job and if recent reports are anything to go by, his fate is sealed irrespective of the final outcome.

Manager hunt

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his trusted advisors all on the lookout for the perfect replacement with links emerging with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi.

With Chelsea sacking Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine is now a target as well. But The Manchester Evening News have claimed that it is former United coach and current Ipswich Town manager Kieran Mckenna who is the frontrunner at the moment.

The Northern Irishman has guided the Tractor Boys back to the Premier League and he is being eyed by a whole host of clubs including Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea and the Red Devils.

The Blues have reportedly had a meeting with the manager’s entourage but Mckenna wants to wait until INEOS make up their mind regarding Ten Hag and would prefer taking over the 20-time English league champions rather than the Seagulls or the London side.

“Kieran McKenna is open to taking over as Manchester United manager should Erik ten Hag leave the club after the FA Cup final.

“Former United coach and boyhood fan McKenna could leave Ipswich Town after guiding them to Premier League promotion amid interest from United, Chelsea and Brighton.

“Brighton earmarked McKenna as their preferred choice to replace Roberto de Zerbi but it is understood they could be trumped by Chelsea or United.

Mckenna prefers United over Chelsea

“Sources say Chelsea have already held discussions with McKenna’s representatives but he is reluctant to rush into a decision amid the possibility of a managerial change at United, who are believed to be his ideal destination.”

The 38-year-old was part of the coaching team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and had done a pretty decent job but left soon after the Norwegian was sacked and joined the Tractor Boys, who at that point in time were in League One.

In his first full season, he guided them back to the Championship and in the subsequent campaign, he earned back-to-back promotions to ensure Ipswich reach the English top-flight after a gap of 22 years.

Mckenna is highly in demand and INEOS are said to be open to appointing a manager who is not a serial winner but someone who is able to build from scratch. Mckenna certainly fits the bill but is he ready for the biggest job in the world so soon into his managerial career? Only time will tell.

Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.