Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to take
Manchester United back to the top but it's not going to be easy. With INEOS acquiring a minority stake in the club, it’s hoped the new era could bring success back to Old Trafford. Ratcliffe is already flexing his muscles, making approaches for Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox in a big shake-up behind the scenes. Doubts have surrounded manager Erik ten Hag's future in recent weeks, with performances being inconsistent and lacking a clear style of play. Injuries have also played their part in an underwhelming season. ALSO READ: Ten Hag makes admission about Mount contract offers at
Chelsea ALSO READ: Ten Hag defends United training methods amid injury crisis United have been starved of front-footed, no-fear
Football for such a long time. Plenty of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired have failed to bring smiles back to United faces. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provided a glimmer of hope, but it’s one of his former assistants who could be capturing the attention of Ratcliffe. Kieran McKenna has his Ipswich side motoring with United characteristics running right through the team as they close in on back-to-back promotions. He could be a perfect fit for United. Record-breaking Ipswich scored a staggering 101 goals in their promotion-winning season in League One, and currently have 84 goals in the Championship. No other side in Europe can keep up with McKenna’s men as they continue to defy the odds, trading blows with Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton. Remember Fergie Time? McKenna is taking this to a whole new level as the Tractor Boys have scored over 20% of their goals in the final 10 minutes of matches. It’s edge-of-the-seat football from a manager who's only in his second full season as a boos. The latest was a 97th-minute winner to beat Southampton. His in-game management is savvy, with 23 goals coming from substitutes this season. He clearly knows how to drill information into his players to maximise their output. It almost seems inevitable that a substitute will score, a bit like when Solskjaer or Javier Hernandez came on for United. United have lost 11 times in the league this season, more games than McKenna has lost in the past two seasons combined. He has this ability to create a never-say-die attitude. It’s worth remembering Ipswich were a club in the bottom half of the third tier when McKenna arrived, so he knows how to change the culture of a dressing room. The question is, could he bring his Ipswich success to United? He possesses a calm demeanour when speaking to the media, remaining balanced and articulate almost effortlessly. All good traits to have. Another familiar name is Lee Grant, another likeable character who’s on McKenna's coaching staff. United have recently acquired Ipswich’s head of recruitment Sam Williams, who returned as head of youth scouting after playing an important role behind the scenes for McKenna. The Northern Irishman has been touted as a possible solution for
Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp stepping down in the summer. But it’s those inside the Old Trafford boardroom who should be keeping tabs on him. Already knowing what life is like at United could be a huge plus if the club do look to replace Ten Hag. McKenna's stock is rising by the game, and Ratcliffe could do a lot worse if he does task his team with looking for a new boss.