Liverpool are reportedly set to open formal discussions with Andoni Iraola in the coming days as they intensify their search for a new head coach following the dismissal of Arne Slot.
- +Liverpool set to open formal talks with Andoni Iraola
The Reds parted ways with Slot on Saturday, just one year after the Dutchman guided the club to the Premier League title.
The Reds parted ways with Slot on Saturday, just one year after the Dutchman guided the club to the Premier League title.
Liverpool are keen to appoint a successor quickly, with outgoing Bournemouth manager Iraola emerging as the leading candidate for the role.
While the Merseyside club have also considered other options, including Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness and Lens manager Pierre Sage, the expectation is that Iraola will ultimately be handed the job.
The 43-year-old Spaniard enjoyed a remarkable campaign with Bournemouth, leading the Cherries to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, their highest-ever league position, and securing qualification for next season’s UEFA Europa League.
Iraola announced in April that he would leave Bournemouth at the end of the season and has since attracted interest from several clubs, including Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool’s decision to dismiss Slot was reportedly driven by Fenway Sports Group chief executive Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes, who are understood to want a more aggressive, front-foot style of play.
Hughes has a strong working relationship with Iraola, having appointed him at Bournemouth while serving as the club’s technical director before moving to Liverpool in 2024.
With Liverpool eager to begin preparations for the new season, talks with Iraola are expected to accelerate in the coming days.
