Brighton is considering potential replacements in case Roberto De Zerbi steps down as manager. De Zerbi’s team has been struggling, and he has been rumored to be eyeing other managerial positions.
Brighton is being proactive and monitoring Kieran McKenna, who has achieved success at Ipswich. McKenna guided Ipswich to promotion from League One last season and is on the verge of securing a Premier League spot after defeating Coventry on Tuesday.
Ipswich, who require a single point to secure automatic promotion, have received acclaim for their exceptional style of play. Under the guidance of McKenna, their progress has been rapid, establishing him as one of the most promising young managers in English football.
Despite having fewer resources compared to their promotion rivals Leicester, Leeds, and Southampton, Ipswich have consistently challenged for the top spot in the Championship.
Brighton is reportedly prepared to pursue McKenna, regardless of Ipswich’s promotion. It remains uncertain whether McKenna, who previously served on the coaching staff at Manchester United, would opt to continue his development in his current position. Given that Ipswich provided him with his first managerial role, loyalty to the club may come into consideration.
However, if Ipswich were to reach the Premier League, financial constraints could become a factor. McKenna might decide that the opportunity to join Brighton and work with a larger transfer budget is too enticing to reject. Brighton has a well-managed structure and a history of astute recruitment.
They made progress by making the bold decision to replace Chris Hughton with Graham Potter in 2019. After Potter’s departure to Chelsea last season, De Zerbi made a remarkable impact. Brighton finished sixth and secured their first-ever qualification for European competition.
Nevertheless, there have been indications this season that De Zerbi feels the club may not match his ambitions. Brighton’s model has involved signing relatively unknown players for reasonable fees and selling them for substantial profits.
However, they have been unable to maintain the same level of success as last season following the departures of Alexis Mac Allister and Moisés Caicedo. Their Europa League journey ended in defeat against Roma, and they have slipped to 12th place after a six-match winless streak.
De Zerbi has a lot to demonstrate and has been disregarded for the forthcoming openings at Bayern Munich and Liverpool. He has been taken into consideration by Chelsea and Milan. Italian sources have indicated that De Zerbi is seeking a fresh challenge, yet there are currently no offers on the table.