Kieran McKenna would be open to becoming Celtic’s next permanent manager, according to reports.
The Ipswich Town manager has emerged as a leading contender to replace Brendan Rodgers, who handed in his resignation on Monday.
McKenna guided Ipswich to consecutive promotions from League One to the Premier League and has a contract worth £5 million per season with the Championship club until 2028.
Reports have claimed that Celtic would need to pay a compensation fee which could reach up to £5m in order to lure McKenna away from Ipswich.
Meanwhile, BBC Sport report that McKenna ‘would be open to a move’ to the Scottish club.
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Ipswich currently sit 12th in the Championship with four wins from 11 games so far.
Ange Postecoglou has also been linked with a return to Celtic after he was sacked by Nottingham Forest earlier this month.
However, sources close to Postecoglou are said to have downplayed the prospect of the 60-year-old agreeing to a second stint at Celtic at this time.
Martin O’Neill has been placed in interim charge following Rodgers’ sudden departure and has stressed that his stay will only be temporary.
‘This is a role where they’re looking for a permanent manager,’ O’Neill said on Tuesday.
‘At this minute, I’ve been called in to do the job. Interim manager at this point – and that’s the way it will remain.
‘I didn’t need to be told what’s required. I got a call late afternoon, early evening from Dermot Desmond (Celtic’s largest shareholder). He said Brendan had resigned.
‘People had been taken aback by that. I assumed nothing would happen until the end of the season for anybody. I was asked if I’d come in and hold proceedings until they found a permanent manager. I had 10 minutes to make up my mind, which I did.’
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