Makes sense that other clubs would chase McKenna and that an EFC offer has been blown out of the water. His value as an EFC player has been rising by the week and I would not be surprised if we haven't yet tabled a serious offer (i.e. serious in the context of what he is worth in late August 2017 compared to what he may have been worth back in June 2017). It would make no sense for McKenna to sign a deal before the end of the year because he is still an unknown quantity with enormous upside - he could add $100,000 to his yearly wage between now and the end of our season (and potentially more if we fall out of the running for the seemingly available big fish).
He'd have gone from a rookie wage to being offered something around about $300k. That's an offer which is very easy for an opposition club to double when we are talking about a player who'll be pressing the whole competition as one of the best running half backs in the game by this time next year. Remember, too, that a buyer will start by offering more than what it will take the incumbent to get the deal done and then, if still in the race, will need to come up with ridiculous money because that's what it takes to entice a player out of a club.
Our list management does some strange things like chasing players we don't need and seemingly ignoring players we do need but we're not going to let McKenna walk given that he is one of the most important parts of our set up (and quickly becoming one of our best and most influential players).
Just because an 'adequate' offer has not yet been put before McKenna's management doesn't mean that there the parties are in conflict - it would be like the Zaharakis situation with the respective parties being comfortable with the state of negotiations (i.e. lets wait until the end of the year and then deal).