Ipswich have offered Kieran McKenna a huge contract as they look to keep the 38-year-old amid interest from Chelsea, according to reports.
McKenna steered the Tractor Boys to the Championship last year and has since guided the club to the Premier League, with the club finishing second to Leicester this season.
The 38-year-old is believed to be a managerial target for Chelsea, who parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday.
The Argentine has left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent, despite the Blues qualifying for the Europa League by finishing sixth.
Kieran McKenna is set to be offered a huge new contract by Ipswich as they look to stop Chelsea from poaching their boss
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As well as Chelsea, Manchester United and Brighton have also been linked with McKenna.
He previously worked under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United, though departed shortly after the Norwegian's sacking in 2021.
And Brighton are interested in McKenna after they confirmed Roberto De Zerbi would be departing after successful 18-month stint.
According to The Sun, however, Ipswich are hellbent on keeping McKenna.
And it's claimed they're ready to quadruple his current wages in order to keep him at Portman Road for the foreseeable future.
Ipswich are ready to pay McKenna a huge £5million-a-year over the next four seasons.
They expect an offer from Brighton in the next 24 hours, though the Seagulls may end up being forced to go back to the drawing board.
McKenna, it's claimed, was eyed by Crystal Palace after Roy Hodgson's sacking in February.
Yet he ultimately opted to stay at Ipswich, where he's established himself as a hero in the eyes of fans and players alike.
McKenna was named LMA's Manager of the Year and Championship Manager of the Year last night.
And the young coach, when asked about his future, attempted to dampen talk of a departure.
"When you do well as a manager, or as a player, there’s always going to be speculation," he said.
“I know what we have achieved is not an ordinary thing, so there’s always going to be speculation.
“But that’s not where my focus is tonight, it’s about what we’ve achieved last season, what we’ve achieved over the last couple of seasons, not just myself but everyone at the football club.
“It’s been a wonderful couple of years and tonight’s about celebrating that.
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Kieran McKenna is being considered by Chelsea in the wake of Mauricio Pochettino's departure from the club
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"I know everyone’s looking forward to next season and I know the club’s going to be in a really, really good place going into that season.”
McKenna isn't the only name being linked with Chelsea.
With De Zerbi available, the Italian could feasibly move to Stamford Bridge as Pochettino's replacement.
Whether Chelsea would go for another former Brighton boss after Graham Potter's failed stint in the dugout is unclear, however.
There's talk of Thomas Tuchel or Antonio Conte potentially returning to Chelsea, too.
Kieran McKenna has secured back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town during his spell in charge at Portman Road
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Tuchel won the Champions League with the Blues in 2021 and is a popular figure among fans.
Conte, meanwhile, secured Premier League and FA Cup glory during his own time at Chelsea.
One person who won't be going back is Jose Mourinho, however, with Chelsea not considering their former boss at the current moment in time.
