We have been blessed with the football that Brighton and Hove Albion have been playing for the past three seasons now thanks to Graham Potter and currently, Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian did not let the Seagulls fans miss what Potter gave them after the Englishman chose to move to Chelsea in 2022.
It’s been only a year, but the former Shakhtar Donetsk and Sassuolo manager has made a name for himself as one of the exciting young coaches in top-flight football. Seagulls fans are currently working through a tough time with the man but they could lose him altogether as interest in his services among big clubs grows.
Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AFC Ajax Amsterdam, Chelsea and Manchester United have been linked to De Zerbi in recent months. Liverpool and Barcelona look to have sorted out their managerial issues, but Ajax, Chelsea and United still have theirs to sort.
The upper echelons of Brighton’s administration are aware of this and are preparing for the possible loss of the Italian. The clubs involved have more historical pedigree than they do and can also offer a bigger salary and a bigger transfer war chest. And so, they are preparing to approach Kieran McKenna to take over from De Zerbi.
McKenna is the man behind Ipswich Town’s current run in the EFL Championship which has seen them move within one point of earning automatic promotion to the Premier League. The 37-year-old took over at the club in 2021 after stints as Tottenham Hotspur’s under-18 manager and Man United’s Under-18 manager as well as assistant coach in the era of José Mourinho. With the Tractor Boys all but an official Premier League team now, McKenna has now become the world’s hottest young coach.
According to The Guardian, Brighton will still target McKenna if De Zerbi leaves regardless of Ipswich’s promotion. The Tractor Boys should ordinarily be having McKenna as their manager until 2027 at least, thanks to his signing an extension in 2023. Now, the team as a whole could cash in on the 37-year-old which will signify their biggest payout – at least until player transfer deals begin to take place.
As stated earlier, all is up to De Zerbi’s decision. The Italian has continued to evade questions about his future, only choosing to focus on the work he is doing with the Seagulls. The club’s administration has also continued to point the media in his direction for answers, leaving everyone in limbo about the possible changes at the AMEX next season.
More reports as the story develops.
