The Suffolk-based team is in strong contention for consecutive promotions, guided by their 37-year-old manager. They currently hold third place in the Championship after Leeds United’s exciting 4-3 victory over Middlesbrough last night. However, the Tractor Boys still have an extra game to play.
These accomplishments have put the former Manchester United coach in the sights of several Premier League clubs, with Europa Conference League winners West Ham being the latest to show interest. The Hammers experienced a 5-2 loss to Crystal Palace over the weekend, dropping them to eighth place in the standings. This has increased pressure on David Moyes, whose contract ends at the close of the season.
A shortlist of potential replacements has been created, which also reportedly includes Ruben Amorim, the current Sporting Lisbon manager and a target for Liverpool.
McKenna is considered an appealing candidate. He would bring a totally different style of play compared to Moyes, with Ipswich being celebrated for their offensive strength. The team has scored 85 goals in 43 league games this season, a record only equaled by Southampton. However, acquiring the Northern Irish manager would likely be costly for West Ham, as he is under contract with Ipswich Town until 2027.
West Ham will want to conclude this season and focus on rebuilding for the future. The final four fixtures present a challenging stretch, with matches against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City, as well as a game against Luton Town, who are fighting relegation. These difficult fixtures suggest a tough finish for the London club before the season wraps up in May.
Ipswich Town has a crucial week ahead, beginning on Saturday with a trip to Hull City at the MKM Stadium, followed by a visit to Coventry City, who recently reached the FA Cup semi-finals. If they navigate these matches without defeat, they’ll be optimistic about securing three points against Huddersfield Town, who have struggled, in the final game of the season at Portman Road.
Kieran McKenna’s impressive track record with Ipswich Town has made it likely that he’ll get an opportunity in the Premier League. However, Ipswich fans are hoping that he leads them to the top tier themselves. Despite not winning in the last three matches, they only need nine more points from their remaining games to secure a Premier League spot.
McKenna, 37, isn’t in a rush to leave Portman Road and might be cautious about swapping Suffolk for a position in London. West Ham presents a challenging environment, and following in the footsteps of David Moyes could be tricky. Despite Moyes being a polarizing figure among the fans, his time at West Ham has been successful, especially after winning a significant trophy last season.
