Brighton ‘eye former Man United coach as replacement for Roberto De Zerbi if he quits the club this summer’
- Brighton are considering an ex-Man United coach if Roberto De Zerbi leaves
- The Seagulls want to be prepared if their manager leaves the club this summer
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Brighton are considering their options if Roberto De Zerbi leaves this summer, with a former Manchester United coach among their possible choices.
The Seagulls have failed to win any of their last six Premier League matches but the manager is widely tipped for a bigger club after his impressive start in the Brighton hotseat.
Now Brighton are considering a former Spurs and Man United coach – and Championship high-flyer – to join the club this summer if necessary.
Brighton will target Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna when De Zerbi retires at the end of the campaign. according to The Guardian.
It is believed that Brighton ‘paid close attention’ to McKenna, who worked as a first-team coach for Manchester United under several managers.
Brighton are considering an ex-Man United coach if Roberto De Zerbi leaves this summer
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna is the top target for the Seagulls when they need a new manager
The Tractor Boys moved within a point of promotion to the Premier League after Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Coventry City.
Promotion for Ipswich will not stop Brighton from opting for McKenna if De Zerbi leaves.
It is thought that Ipswich Town will be in a strong contractual position to negotiate a decent payout should Brighton attempt to sign McKenna in the summer, as he signed a contract extension 12 months ago to remain at the club until 2027.
McKenna held various coaching roles at Tottenham Hotspur before joining his boyhood club Manchester United in 2016, first as under-18s manager and then as part of the first-team staff from 2018-19.
He was offered the managerial job at Ipswich in December 2021 and has worked to take the Tractor Boys from the middle of League 1 to the fringes of the top flight.
De Zerbi’s team played in Europe this season, but this time they have dropped to twelfth place in the Premier League, four points behind the top half.
McKenna first became first-team coach at Manchester United during the 2018/19 season
He was strongly linked with upcoming vacancies at Liverpool and Bayern Munich, although it now seems unlikely he will get either role.
AC Milan and Chelsea are among the other clubs linked to De Zerbi in recent months.
