Manchester United are reportedly 'pondering a move' for Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna.

McKenna has just achieved the remarkable feat of guiding the Blues into the Premier League with back-to-back automatic promotions. His first two full seasons in a senior management role have yielded a combined 194 points and 193 league goals.

The Northern Irishman, who turned 38 this week, has been linked to several clubs over the last two years. It's understood that Crystal Palace tried hard to persuade him to move to Selhurst Park back in February, while Brighton have long been said to see him as the ideal successor to Roberto De Zerbi whenever he moves on.

Now, the Guardian are reporting that McKenna is 'under serious consideration' to replace Erik ten Hag if the Dutchman leaves Old Trafford at the end of this season. United are currently eighth in the Premier League following a dismal run of results. Their campaign will conclude with the FA Cup Final against Manchester City a week on Saturday.

McKenna grew up a Manchester United fan. Upon joining the club as Under-18s boss in 2016, he said: “To go to Manchester United, there is no bigger move you can make. It’s a dream come true really. I was a massive United fan. My dad brought me over to my first game in the 1994 season to see them lift the Premier League trophy.”

In 2018 he was promoted to the first team staff and worked as assistant manager to Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick before leaving to take charge of the Blues in December 2021.

McKenna has never been shy in making his ambitions clear, often responding to speculation by saying: "I have worked at the highest levels of the game in club football. I felt very confident there and I feel like that's somewhere I want to be again."

Straight after promotion to the top flight was achieved, the Town boss - who is contracted until 2027 - was asked if he wanted to continue his journey at Portman Road.

He replied: "I love it here, it's a fantastic club. I'm so proud to be the manager of this football club and I've worked so hard at it every day. I give so much of myself. 

East Anglian Daily Times: Kieran McKenna celebrates during the open top bus parade that celebrated Ipswich Town's promotion to the Premier League.Kieran McKenna celebrates during the open top bus parade that celebrated Ipswich Town's promotion to the Premier League. (Image: PA Images)

"I'm just focused on enjoying that journey. The speculation has been there for the last two years to be honest and I've shown loyalty to the club through that. I'm really pleased that I've stuck with it and how we've achieved what we have achieved. There are some big and exciting steps to come for the football club."

In an exclusive interview with the EADT and Ipswich Star, less than 24 hours after promotion was secured, chief executive Mark Ashton was asked if McKenna was going to keep leading the club forwards.

“He’s certainly not told me he’s not!" he replied. "Look, he’s invested.  

“It’s a continued pleasure to watch him grow and develop. I’d class Kieran as a friend as well as a colleague. We talk two or three times a day if we need to. We don’t talk at all some days if we don’t need to. There are very few wasted words. We work well together. 

“I think you find out more about each other when pressure comes. We've had some challenging times and some pressured times over the last few months, but we've stayed really tight as one, stayed very focused, kept a common purpose and a common goal.

"He’s instrumental in what we’ve done and everything we can do. As I’ve said all along, I want Kieran here for the long-term."