Manchester United are weighing up Kieran McKenna as the leading candidate to replace Michael Carrick should the current manager be relieved of his duties. According to Football FanCast, the Northern Irishman is keen to return to management and is open to discussions with the Red Devils.
However, any potential appointment would require a significant financial outlay. If McKenna were to take the reins before July 2027, Ipswich Town would be due a compensation fee of £7 million.
With Carrick's position under increasing pressure following a dismal start to the 2026/27 season—where the team has managed only one victory in the Premier League—criticism is mounting over their lack of effort on the pitch. A continued run of poor results following the international break could spell the end for Carrick.
Fans at Old Trafford are certainly familiar with McKenna, who has previously held several coaching roles within the Red Devils' setup. He made a notable impact when he guided Ipswich Town to the Premier League, but he took a step back from management at the start of this season for personal reasons.
The career trajectory of McKenna mirrors that of Carrick; both coaches were part of Jose Mourinho's and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's staff before embarking on their managerial journeys. While Carrick remains in his role for the time being, McKenna's readiness to return to coaching provides the United hierarchy with a potential contingency plan amid growing anxieties.
