Man United ‘hold talks with representatives of Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna’ as pressure grows on Erik ten Hag… as Red Devils ‘hope to beat Premier League rivals to sign the in-demand head coach’

Manchester United have reportedly held talks with representatives of Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna.

McKenna, who previously coached United’s Under-18 side, is one of the English football’s brightest young managers after achieving back-to-back promotions with Ipswich.

The 38-year-old has recently been linked with a move to Premier League sides Chelsea and Brighton but now it’s emerged that United have already held talks. 

According to Sky Sports News, representatives of McKenna met with United’s chief executive Omar Berrada and the club’s technical director Jason Wilcox last week to discuss the managerial role at Old Trafford.

This comes amid growing pressure on current boss Erik ten Hag, who recently guided United to their worst-ever Premier League finish.

Pressure is growing on current United boss Erik ten Hag after their disappointing campaign

The Red Devils boss insists he’s fully focused on their FA Cup final clash with rivals Man City on Saturday afternoon, despite the rumours about his job security. 

At a recent press conference, he said: ‘I am just focusing on the job I have to do and that is, first, win the game on Saturday and then we are in the project and keep going in the project. Until Saturday I only think about this game.

‘It’s all about trophies but you need an opportunity to win a trophy. So last 10 years, not so many trophies in this club but we have an opportunity to win two trophies in two years.

‘I came here to win trophies. Saturday I have the next opportunity and we achieved this. We earned this opportunity as a team and now we have to go for it.

‘At the same time in the last two years, of course every season you review it and then we will see where we are in the project and the things that we have to change’.

McKenna, meanwhile, has a deal until 2027 at Portman Road, with the compensation required to untangle him believed to be between £4million and £6m.

McKenna has been at Ipswich since December 2021, taking over when they were 12th in League One. 

That campaign he led them to 11th but since then he has masterminded two consecutive promotions, with fans flooding back to Portman Road. 

His achievements with Ipswich have lead to him being closely linked to the recently vacant roles at both Chelsea and Brighton.

Representatives of McKenna reportedly met with United’s chief executive Omar Berrada

The 38-year-old has led Ipswich to the Premier League with back-to-back promotions 

He previously worked as United’s U18 head coach and first-team assistant manager

It had recently been reported that the Seagulls were hopeful of swooping in ahead of Todd Boehly’s Blues to land the 38-year-old.

Chelsea parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday night, meanwhile Roberto De Zerbi announced earlier this month that he will walk away from Brighton. 

He previously worked as United’s U18 coach before being promoted to assistant manager under Jose Mourinho. 

Once Mourinho left, McKenna remained at the club until 2021 when he joined Ipswich.