Leeds United's key Premier League rivals face early-summer blow as £8m release clause emerges
Leeds United will have a keen eye on the fortunes of their Premier League rivals ahead of another season fighting against relegation.
One of Leeds United’s key 2026/27 Premier League rivals risk suffering a huge early-summer blow in the form of a key exit.
The Whites enjoyed a 14th-placed finish last season but know from previous experience how difficult that second top-flight campaign can prove. While there will be ambitions to climb the table, expectations will be more realistic as Daniel Farke’s squad fight to survive again.
Unlike this time last year, Leeds will not go into the season among the favourites for relegation. That status will inevitably be handed to the three newly-promoted teams of Coventry City, Ipswich Town and play-off winners Hull City.
Ipswich are now facing the prospect of an early-summer blow amid reports surrounding the future of their impressive manager, Kieran McKenna. The 40-year-old has guided his side to Championship promotion twice, either side of a relegation in 2024/25, but could leave before a second attempt at survival.
TalkSPORT report that McKenna is being eyed for a potential manager swoop by Fulham, who look set to lose an impressive head coach of their own in Marco Silva to Benfica. The Ipswich boss has been named as a ‘top target’ for Craven Cottage chiefs and is reportedly keen to make the move.
Kieran McKenna release clause amid Fulham interest
Ipswich want to keep their manager but could be powerless, with talkSPORT reporting on the presence of an £8million release clause which Fulham are looking into. Should they trigger the clause, McKenna would be free to leave Portman Road.
McKenna has been with Ipswich since 2021, at which point they were a League One outfit. The Northern Irishman oversaw back-to-back promotions, the second of which saw them pip Farke’s Leeds to a top-two Championship finish in 2023/24 before instant relegation.
Despite being widely tipped for a top-flight role following that relegation, McKenna stayed at Portman Road and after a slow start, got the Tractor Boys straight back up. They lost just one of their final 15 games on the way to promotion.
His exit would be a huge blow for an Ipswich side already facing an uphill battle to survive in the Premier League. Newly-promoted teams still have a huge bridge to gap despite positive signs of being able to survive shown by Leeds and Sunderland last season.
Both sides recruited brilliantly in the summer ahead of their Premier League return and importantly, both had stability in keeping the manager who took them up. Farke came under huge pressure at Elland Road in the autumn but kept Leeds up in relative comfort come May.