Ipswich Town: £6m Kieran McKenna claims amid Brighton, Chelsea and Man United links | OneFootball

The asking price for Kieran McKenna to leave Ipswich Town has gone up, according to the latest reports, as Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United are linked with the talented manager.

Ever since it was announced that Roberto de Zerbi would leave the Seagulls at the end of the season, McKenna has been one of the main candidates named as the potential replacement for the Italian.

Reports linking the 37-year-old to the now vacant post at the Amex Stadium came within minutes of the announcement that de Zerbi would be leaving.

This isn't the first bit of interest that McKenna has received from top flight sides. Crystal Palace pursued him before appointing Oliver Glasner, as they began to plan for life after Roy Hodgson.

Manchester United have also been named as a club with interest in the Northern Irishman. He previously worked at Old Trafford during the Ole Gunnar Solskjær management days as an assistant to the former Norwegian international. The Guardian have also linked Chelsea.

Now the latest line of attack that Ipswich have to fend off is coming from the south coast. One recently revealed factor now means that it will become a bit harder to prize the Town boss away from Portman Road.

Kieran McKenna price increase

Journalist Alan Nixon has said, via his Patreon, that it will now cost any team that wants to take McKenna away from Tractor Boys £6 million.

This comes as a result of the club's promotion to the top flight. Prior to this, the fee was 33.3% lower than it is now that he has led them to the Premier League.

Nixon added that the price increase shouldn't stop Brighton and Man United from making a "serious bid for him."

McKenna is said to have been a long-term target of the Seagulls, with their interest stretching back six months, and that he was the top choice to replace de Zerbi.

If Brighton want to get a move done for the Ipswich manager, then it may need to be done quickly, as United are interested in the 37-year-old, as they are looking at potential replacements for their boss, Erik ten Hag.

United beat the Seagulls 2-0 on the final day of the season in what was de Zerbi's final match as boss.

Kieran McKenna shouldn't be in any rush to jump at top flight opportunities

No matter how unlikely this sentence was two years ago, it is the reality now; Ipswich are a Premier League club, and McKenna is the manager of a Premier League team.

He has previously said that this was part of his aspirations - to lead a team at the highest level - and, at the age of 37, he has now achieved that.

He has put in so much work to get the Tractor Boys to where they are now, and, with the money that is behind the club, they have a lot of the right components to become a stable top flight team.

It would be very odd if he were to jump ship now. Next season provides him even more of an opportunity to prove how good he is.

This is his biggest task yet, and, if he can pass it, by helping Ipswich maintain their status in their new league, then there will be clubs all over the country, and potentially the world, scrapping for his signature.

Even if they do get relegated, there shouldn't be a shortage of potential opportunities for him. But, if he goes to Brighton, or even the Red Devils, and fails to achieve what many think he can, then that opportunity will almost certainly be gone forever.