Ipswich Town may struggle to keep hold of their highly-rated head coach Kieran McKenna this summer, with the Northern Irishman reportedly 'increasingly likely' to leave Portman Road for a new job.
McKenna's remarkable tenure at Ipswich
McKenna has been a revelation in his first managerial role with Ipswich, overseeing three promotions in four years, including an instant return to the Premier League this season following relegation last term. The 39-year-old's accomplishments in Suffolk have not gone unnoticed, with McKenna regularly linked with other top-flight jobs.
After guiding Ipswich to the Premier League for the first time following successive promotions two years ago, McKenna was considered for a number of top roles, including the vacancy at his former club, Manchester United. He eventually stayed to lead Ipswich in the Premier League before remaining in the role to respond to relegation with a promotion campaign this year. But a new report has cast doubt on the likelihood of McKenna staying on at Portman Road this time around.
Interest from Premier League rivals
The Sun claims that McKenna is expected to leave if he receives an offer from a rival Premier League club this summer, with Ipswich even drawing up a shortlist of potential successors. Crystal Palace are among those who may move for McKenna as they prepare to appoint a new head coach to replace the outgoing Oliver Glasner. The Eagles are understood to have identified Andoni Iraola as their top target to take over. But the sought-after Bournemouth boss also has interest from Chelsea, with Palace likely to turn their attention to McKenna if Iraola proves to be unattainable.
Fulham could also come into the equation for McKenna amid the ongoing uncertainty over the future of Marco Silva. He, too, is admired by Chelsea and out of contract at the end of the season, with no agreement currently in place for him to continue at Craven Cottage.
Compensation clause not a deterrent
McKenna signed a four-year contract with Ipswich back in 2024 after winning promotion to the Premier League. Those terms include a significant compensation figure, thought to be around £5 million, which means poaching him would not be cheap for any club. Ipswich, who were languishing in League One when McKenna took charge, clinched promotion to the Premier League on the final day of the Championship season with a comprehensive 3-0 win over QPR.
