Sunderland are attempting to make an ambitious move for Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna to replace Tony Mowbray.
That is according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Sunderland have shortlisted McKenna and Reim’s boss Will Still as potential replacements.
The Black Cats made the shock decision to part ways with Mowbray on Monday after spending 16 months at the helm while progressing his side into a team capable of challenging for promotion.
During this successful period at the club, the 60-year-old deployed an attractive brand of football and developed a whole host of young players, including Jack Clarke, Dan Neil and Trai Hume.
Although the veteran didn’t really put a foot wrong given Sunderland are currently only three points behind the play-offs places, his departure felt inevitable.
The North East giants want a manager who can provide dynamism, modernity and youth; three boxes that Mowbray doesn’t tick, however, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna certainly does.
Across his tenure in East Anglia, the 37-year-old has brought an all-encompassing, attacking style of football that has propelled the Tractor Boys from League One to second place in the Championship.
Whilst Sunderland’s ambition to prise McKenna from Portman Road is admirable, he could be unattainable.
Is Kieran McKenna unattainable?
McKenna took charge of Ipswich in December 2021 when the club were struggling in the doldrums of the third tier.
The Northern Irish boss – who has been lauded as ‘really special’ by Jamie Carragher for the incredible job he’s done in East Anglia – has become one of the hottest properties in the English game.
Given how quickly he’s transformed the whole complexion at Ipswich, from a club going nowhere to one dreaming of a return to the Premier League, the above statement is correct while his record speaks volumes about the relentless consistency he demands from his players.
In 23 matches in all competitions this season, he’s orchestrated 16 wins, a sensational 2.26 goals per game and a whopping win percentage of 69.57%.
That is a record any manager in world football would be proud of – even Pep Guardiola – and he’s achieving the above success in one of the hardest leagues in the English pyramid.
Indeed, McKenna is building a dynasty at Portman Road and crafting a legacy that he hopes will go down in Ipswich folklore by leading them into the top flight.
Given the position he’s in currently having led his side to second in the Championship, it’s highly unlikely he’ll quit his post to take on a role at Sunderland who are currently 18 points behind the automatic promotion places.
That said, the allure of moving to such a prestigious club with the ambition they are showing could persuade him to move to the North East.