Brighton 'eye former Man United coach as replacement for Roberto De Zerbi if he quits the club this summer'

Brighton are considering their options if Roberto De Zerbi leaves this summer, with a former Manchester United coach among their potential choices. 

The Seagulls have failed to win any of their last six Premier League outings, but the manager has been widely tipped for a bigger club following his impressive start in the Brighton hotseat. 

Now Brighton are considering a former Spurs and Man United coach - and Championship high-flier - to come in to the club this summer if required. 

Brighton will target Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna if De Zerbi quits at the end of the campaign, according to The Guardian. 

Brighton are understood to be 'paying close attention' to McKenna, who worked as a first-team coach for Manchester United under several managers. 

The Tractor Boys moved within a point of promotion to the Premier League following Tuesday night's 2-1 win at Coventry City. 

Promotion for Ipswich will not deter Brighton from gunning for McKenna if De Zerbi leaves.  

It is thought that Ipswich Town will have a strong contractual position to negotiate a decent payout if Brighton did try to take McKenna in the summer, as he signed a contract extension 12 months ago to remain with the club until 2027. 

McKenna held various coaching roles at Tottenham Hotspur before joining his boyhood club Manchester United in 2016, first as under-18s manager, and then as part of their first-team staff from 2018-19.

In December 2021, he was offered the managerial job at Ipswich, and has worked to bring the Tractor Boys from the middle of League 1 to the verge of the top flight.  

De Zerbi's side were in Europe this season, but have slipped to 12th in the Premier League table this time around, four points adrift of the top half.

He was strongly linked to upcoming vacancies at Liverpool and Bayern Munich, although it now seems unlikely he will be offered either role. 

AC Milan and Chelsea are among the other clubs that have been linked to De Zerbi in recent months.