Man Utd add shock name to list of potential Erik ten Hag replacements that no-one saw coming
Manchester United have added a shock name to their list of potential replacements for manager Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag's second season in charge of United has been hugely underwhelming, and as a result the Dutchman's position is looking increasingly precarious.
United are eighth in the Premier League table with two games left to play, cannot qualify for next season's Champions League and are on course for their worst league finish in over 30 years.
Ten Hag has one year remaining on his contract, but he could well be dismissed before then.
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The club's new minority owners Ineos - headed by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe - have not yet made a final decision on Ten Hag's future.
Plenty of high profile managers have been linked with replacing the 54-year-old at Old Trafford, including Zinedine Zidane Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel.
However, a fresh report claims that United could instead turn to a familiar face in Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna.
McKenna has worked wonders at Ipswich since taking charge in December 2021, guiding the Suffolk club to back-to-back promotions and a return to the Premier League after 22 years away.
🚨EXCL: 🔴🏴 #PL |
— Santi Aouna (@Santi_J_FM) May 14, 2024
🆕️ Kieran McKenna is a also a candidate to become the next manager of Manchester United.
➡️ There has been a meeting in recent days between the Red Devils and Kieran McKenna's agent
✅️ Gareth Southgate is still a top target and he is keen on the job but… https://t.co/c6tOaBwOFj pic.twitter.com/cExjMUQdyn
According to journalist Santi Aouna of footmercato, United consider McKenna to be a serious candidate, and have held talks with him in recent days.
The report claims that England boss Southgate is United's top target, but club bosses are wary that he might not be immediately available, having signed a contract with the FA until the end of the year.
The Guardian's Ed Aarons added that other Premier League clubs are also interested in McKenna, though he could decide to stay at Portman Road.
If United want to hire someone who has a good understanding of the club, then McKenna might be their man.
The 38-year-old was the club's Under-18s coach between 2016 and 2018, before he became first-team assistant manager to Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar-Solskjaer and then Ralf Rangnick.
McKenna's contract at Portman Road is valid until 2025.
Topics: Ipswich Town, League One, Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Football, Premier League
Alex Brotherton