BRIGHTON have identified Kieran McKenna as their leading candidate to replace Roberto De Zerbi, according to reports.
De Zerbi, 44, will leave the Seagulls after their final day clash with Manchester United.
With the Italian to depart, Brighton have begun making contingency plans.
And according to talkSPORT, Ipswich boss McKenna is a "leading contender" to be offered the Amex hotseat.
McKenna, 38, worked as a first team coach at Man Utd under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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He left Old Trafford in December 2021 to manage Ipswich Town, then in League One.
The Northern Irishman has since done a stunning job at Portman Road, guiding them to League One promotion in his first full season, before repeating the trick in the Championship.
McKenna is primed to lead Ipswich into their first top flight campaign in 22 years.
Brighton, however, will try to tempt him into leaving Town to take on a new challenge on the South Coast.
McKenna is set to be a man in demand moving forward.
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Earlier this week he was linked with a move to former club Man Utd, should Erik ten Hag get the boot.
As for De Zerbi, the outgoing Brighton boss has been linked with vacant posts at Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Upon the announcement that he would be leaving the Seagulls, De Zerbi wrote in a statement: "I am very sad to be leaving Brighton, but I am very proud of what my players and staff have achieved with the support of everyone at the club and our amazing fans in the past two historical seasons.
"We have agreed to end my time at Brighton so that the club and I can continue to work in the way that suits each of us best, following our own ideas and visions, as well as our work and human values.
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"I have really enjoyed an intense and challenging two years working in the Premier League, not least competing in four major competitions this season.
"Leaving now provides me with time to take a break before deciding on my future plans."
Chairman Tony Bloom, 54, added: "Roberto has given us two excellent seasons of service in which he has led the club to new heights, not least our first ever European campaign which will live long in the memory of Albion fans.
“We have mutually agreed to end Roberto’s contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future.
“I am sure our fans will give Roberto and his staff a wonderful and fully deserved send off at the Amex before, during and after tomorrow’s match.
“In the meantime, I’d like to thank Roberto and his staff for all their hard work in the past two seasons. They all leave our club on good terms and with our very best wishes for the future.”
In addition to McKenna, Brighton have also been linked with a stunning reunion with former boss Graham Potter.
While Francesco Farioli has also featured prominently with the bookies.
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