Kieran McKenna is in advanced talks with Ipswich Town over becoming the new manager at the League One club.
Manchester United have given McKenna permission to hold talks with Ipswich after he told the club he was keen on taking the position.
The League One outfit sacked Paul Cook earlier in December and have identified McKenna as the ideal candidate to replace him as they seek to close the gap on the play-off places.
McKenna told United's new interim manager Ralf Rangnick he was interested in the job and the German has given his blessing to the departure of the 35-year-old.
It's understood Rangnick had enjoyed working with McKenna, who was sat next to the manager at Carrow Road on Saturday, but he accepted that the chance of moving into a managerial position was too good to turn down.
McKenna joined United in an academy coaching role and was promoted to first-team affairs by Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2018.
He was kept on by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his role grew in prominence under the Norwegian, but McKenna was criticised during the final months of Solskjaer's reign.
There were calls for McKenna and Michael Carrick to depart with Solskjaer, but Carrick went three games unbeaten as caretaker manager before announcing he was leaving Old Trafford. McKenna was kept on by Rangnick but is now also seeking to leave on his own terms.
Since being appointed as interim manager Rangnick has added Chris Armas to his coaching staff, while sports psychologist Sascha Lense has also joined. The expected departure of McKenna could mean Rangnick looks to add more of his own staff in the coming weeks.
