Ipswich Town are desperately trying to keep hold of Kieran McKenna this summer, following ample interest in the Northern Irishman’s services, but just up the road, bitter rivals Norwich City have been undergoing managerial talks of their own.

McKenna has been in the news quite a lot in recent weeks. The young head coach, who guided the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League, is now being sounded out by the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea and Manchester United.

There are uncertainties at all three clubs regarding the future of their head coaching position, with both Brighton and Chelsea needing new managers this summer after Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino recently announced their departures.

Nevertheless, Ipswich Town fans will be glad to hear that McKenna is now out of the running for the job at Stamford Bridge, according to talkSPORT, although the outlet are claiming that Brighton are still confident of securing his services. The Seagulls will be forced to hand over £4 million to buy the 38-year-old out of his contract at Portman Road.

In the town over, Norwich are also looking for a new manager to sit in the dugout after David Wagner was relieved of his duties at Carrow Road following a 4-0 defeat to Leeds United in the play-off semi-finals which resigned the Canaries to another year of Championship football.

Names such as Will Still and Liam Rosenior have been touted as Wagner’s replacement, but Football Insider released a report on Monday morning claiming that the Norfolk-based club are close to agreeing a deal with FC Nordsjaelland for Johannes Hoff Thorup.

Thorup is just 35 years old and has done an incredible job in Denmark. Football Insider are claiming that Norwich are currently working with Nordsjaelland to agree a compensation package for the young manager.

Writer’s View

Norwich City could be using bitter rivals Ipswich Town as an example by bringing in a young, relatively inexperienced head coach in English football with the hopes of re-energising the squad after years of languishing in the same division.

Thorup has proven his worth in Denmark already, taking a team who are known for developing youth players to the cusp of the Danish Superliga title last season. Perhaps he can be the man to take Norwich back to the Premier League.

GET MORE NEWS HERE