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Kieran McKenna next club odds revealed amid claims he’s likely to reject new Ipswich deal

The next club odds for Kieran McKenna has been revealed amid claims he’s likely to reject a new Ipswich deal so he can ‘move on’.

BBC Sport‘s Nick Mashiter says is highly probable that Kieran McKenna will decline any new contract offers due to the attention he is receiving from Chelsea and Brighton.

Additionally, Manchester United is reportedly considering him as a potential candidate if they decide to make a change in light of Erik ten Hag’s uncertain future.

McKenna, who is currently contracted to Ipswich until 2027, has great ambition and wants to take the next step in his career.

Talks with Ipswich are expected for later this week to with the Tractor Boys likely to put to him a new deal in the hope of keeping him at Portman Road.

However, BBC Sport learn that the club are likely to fail in their attempt with McKenna and assistant Martyn Pert feeling this is the right time to move on.

Chelsea are thought to be the frontrunner, despite Brighton’s interest, while Man Utd’s uncertain situation further complicates matters with the future of Ten Hag unknown, at least until the FA Cup Final against Man City this weekend.

Any interested club are being made to pay a minimum of £4m in compensation to secure the services of McKenna and Pert.

Ipswich aren’t said to be panicking, instead feeling calm about the matter and know there is likely to be interest in McKenna due to hiss stunning success in taking them back to the Premier League for the first time since 2001-02.

He was at the League Managers Association’s awards in London on Tuesday, which McKenna won the Championship manager of the year and the LMA manager of the year, following successive promotions having finished second in League One in 2023.

Ipswich finished 2nd in the Championship, their first season back in the second tier, and earned over 90 points as well as more than 90 goals in both seasons.

McKenna, is a boyhood United fan, which will only boost his chances of becoming their new manager, and of course the bookies will list his high, especially after he spent five years at Old Trafford working under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, prior to joining Ipswich in December 2021.

When asked about interest from other clubs, McKenna said to the media at the awards this week: ‘But I know how much everyone is looking forward to the season, the club is in a fantastic path and everyone is just really looking forward to the season ahead.’

When pressed on whether offers from Chelsea, Brighton or Manchester United would be hard to turn down, he replied: ‘Again, when you do well – as a manger or as a player – there’s always going to be speculation.

‘I know what we’ve achieved isn’t a normal thing so there’s always going to be speculation. But that’s not where my focus is… tonight is about what we’ve achieved over the last couple of seasons.

‘It’s been a wonderful couple of years so tonight is about celebrating that. I know everyone is looking forward to next season and I know the club is going to be in a really good place going into that season.’

‘This award is one of the most humbling and proudest moments of my life,’ he said after being handed the award by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

‘It’s the best thing in the world and I’ve had good experience as a first-team coach, but to be a manager in the Premier League and go up against great managers is going to be a great challenge and something I can’t wait for.’

Next Permanent Chelsea Manager – Sky Bet – 22nd May)
Robert De Zerbi – 7/4
Kieran McKenna – 7/2
Enzo Maresca – 4/1
Ruben Amorim – 4/1
Thomas Frank – 6/1

Next Permanent Brighton Manager – Sky Bet – 22nd May)
Kieran McKenna – 11/10
Francesco Farioli – 6/4
Vincent Kompany – 8/1
Russell Martin – 10/1
Graham Potter – 12/1

Next Permanent Man Utd Manager – Sky Bet – 22nd May)
Mauricio Pochettino – 11/8
Thomas Tuchel – 3/1
Gareth Southgate – 9/2
Roberto De Zerbi – 6/1
Kieran McKenna – 8/1
Graham Potter – 12/1

This is what fans are saying with the Kieran McKenna next club odds revealed amid claims he’s likely to reject new Ipswich deal…

@Fulchaaa: At the end of the day, if McKenna goes. He goes. We can look back at the last 2 years, and thank him for everything. I’d love him to stay, but he’s clearly capable of managing big things. Let’s just see what happens, believe nothing until the club announce it. #ITFC

@RmiMills1: McKenna don’t do it please don’t do it #itfc

@mithITFC: Fucking hell, this is like torture seeing all this shite unfold #itfc

@Sammydwills: McKenna makes every single one of our players 15%-20% better than they actually are, if he leaves were in trouble. I wouldn’t be angry if he leaves but I’d be disappointed, we gave him his first chance, backed him every step of the way & then he’s gonna jump ship… 😢 #itfc

@ebond00: What a very stupid man, backed at a club now where he has the chance to become one of the all time greats or go to a club for 6 months earn a load and get sacked after 4 bad games 😂 #itfc

@etischler: For the love of god! #itfc #ITFC

@ClaretBluBlood: Ahh, nothing like loyalty.

@SSE_LTFC: Seems to be a matter of when and not if McKenna leaves Ipswich, massive blow.

@Biggy_Talls_: Our fans are deluded if they think KM is staying. What a job he has done for us but ambition will always come before loyalty. He’s paid us back for our leap of faith 10x over. He’s just destined for bigger things… hope he stays but wish him the best whatever the choice. #itfc

@daveynolan: Il be absolutely gutted if KM goes. Just wish he’d have a crack with us in the prem after all the hard work he’s put in. It leaves a bitter taste. I just don’t know why he wouldn’t want to have a go in the prem with us. #itfc

@lukeym20: If we don’t keep McKenna we are in big trouble unfortunately our squad has over performed massively and I was optimistic we would stay up with him but if he goes I can’t see us staying up unfortunately & To not be loyal to us so early on in his career will be disappointing #ITFC

@crablitt81: If the club, the town, the players and the fans meant anything to McKenna he would be staying to see this through. Disappointment doesn’t even touch it #ITFC

@63blueevans: “If” the worst was to happen then as Kelly Clarkson once sang “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, Stand a little taller”. We get a new manager, we back him, we turn up the volume & we hit the ground running in August. It’s our club, not McKennas. Trust the process #itfc

@itfc_louis2: He can either become a hero here, or throw his career down the pan at a club like Chelsea. He’s a fucking idiot if he chooses the second option. #itfc

@Brooks19732001: Anyone else getting fed up with all this McKenna stuff, can’t we just have one summer in 20 odd years to enjoy our achievements in peace, the playoffs haven’t even finished yet & already promotion seems years ago, piss or get off the pot #itfc

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