Brighton target former Man Utd coach to be their new manager if Roberto De Zerbi quits
BRIGHTON will target Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna if Roberto De Zerbi leaves the club this summer, according to reports.
The Seagulls have endured a torrid run of form, failing to win any of their last six Premier League games.
They have also picked up just six victories from their last 28 league matches.
That has seen them slip to 12th in the table, four points adrift of the top half.
And it has led to speculation over the future of Italian De Zerbi, 44, who took over in September 2022 and led Brighton to Europa League qualification last season.
He had been linked with moves to Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but appears to have been overlooked for both.
Chelsea and AC Milan have also been mooted as potential destinations.
Now, according to The Guardian, the Seagulls have made Ipswich head coach McKenna, 37, their top target should they be looking for a new manager in the summer.
Brighton are understood to be “paying close attention” to the man that worked as a first-team coach under Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United.
He joined Ipswich in December 2021 and guided them to promotion from League One last season.
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Now they are on the brink of a second consecutive promotion, needing just a point from their final game of the campaign to secure a return to the Premier League after 22 years away.
However, reports are Brighton will push to bring McKenna in irrespective of whether or not Ipswich make it into the top flight.
But McKenna is under contract with the Championship club until 2027, meaning Ipswich will demand compensation from Brighton if they wish steal their manager.