Manchester United are eyeing Kieran McKenna as the top candidate to replace Michael Carrick should the current manager face the axe. According to Football FanCast, the Northern Irishman is keen to return to management and is open to talks with the Manchester club.
However, appointing McKenna won't come cheap. The club would need to cough up £7 million in compensation to Ipswich Town if they wish to secure his services before July 2027.
Carrick's position has come under scrutiny following a dismal start to the 2026/27 season, with the Red Devils managing to secure just one victory in the Premier League. The team has faced intense criticism for their lack of effort, and another poor run of results post-international break could prove fatal for the Englishman.
McKenna is already a familiar face to fans at Old Trafford. He has held several coaching roles within the Red Devils' setup and successfully guided Ipswich Town back to the Premier League. He stepped away from his role with the Tractor Boys at the beginning of the current season to take a breather.
McKenna's career path mirrors that of Carrick in many ways, with both having served under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before venturing into management. While Carrick still holds the reins for now, McKenna's readiness to step back into coaching provides the hierarchy with a contingency plan should a crisis arise.
