Leeds United could get an early lift in next season's survival fight if Kieran McKenna leaves Ipswich for Fulham. The Ipswich boss is high on Fulham's shortlist to replace Marco Silva, and that would force one of Leeds' direct relegation rivals to reshape itself before the 2026/27 Premier League battle has even begun.
That matters because Leeds are not being talked about as a team chasing the top half. Daniel Farke has already set the tone for next season by saying survival should be the aim again, even after Leeds finished 14th in their return season in the Premier League. For a club that came back up and stayed up with ease, the target remains plain: keep clear of trouble first, think about anything else later.
The reason McKenna's situation has landed on the radar is simple. Fulham are preparing for a possible change in the dugout, with Silva set to become Benfica's next manager, according to Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas. If Fulham move for McKenna and get him, Ipswich would be left searching for a replacement at the same time they should be strengthening for another top-flight campaign. That would be unwelcome timing for a club that was relegated in 2024/25 and is expected to be in Leeds' company again next season.
The promoted sides are the clubs most likely to be pulled into the scrap with Leeds, and the picture is not identical for all three. Hull City won the play-off final, but the expectation is that they would go straight back down. Coventry, under Frank Lampard, have made a strong impression, while Ipswich look the more obvious rival for Leeds because they already know the division and now face the possibility of losing the manager who has shaped them. Leeds could also finish above Crystal Palace or Nottingham Forest if those clubs lose key players, but survival is the first job and the margin for error is still slim.
That is where the 49ers come in. If Leeds are to avoid being dragged down again, they will have to spend wisely and improve the squad with real purpose, not just headline names. A managerial shuffle at Ipswich would not decide Leeds' season by itself, but it could change the balance among the sides they are trying to stay ahead of. The bigger question is whether McKenna actually leaves, and if he does, whether Ipswich can replace him quickly enough to keep pace with Leeds in the fight to stay up.
