Should Andoni Iraola replace Arne Slot in the Liverpool dugout as expected this summer, he will have a major job on his hands
Andoni Iraola is set to leave Bournemouth at the end of his contract and is reportedly keen on the Liverpool job.
Andoni Iraola looks set to swap the south coast for Merseyside(Image: (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images))
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Just a year on from winning the Premier League, Arne Slot has been ousted by Liverpool. While not an entirely shocking outcome considering the Reds' form this season, it does mean the club are in for an even bigger summer than first thought.
On the surface, it's simple: Liverpool need to find a new manager. All signs point to that being Ardoni Iraola, the outgoing Bournemouth boss. The 43-year-old Basque native has impressed with the Cherries thanks to his brand of fluid and fast football.
If Iraola does become Liverpool's 23rd manager in their storied history, he's going to have to make some major decisions. From replacing star names to building a squad capable of challenging on several fronts while reinstating an identity on the pitch, we take a look at what the Reds' potential next manager needs to do.
Replacing Mo Salah
By far the most daunting task of all and the No. 1 priority is replacing the man who scored 257 goals for Liverpool. The iconic Egyptian has played his last game for the Reds as he seeks a new challenge elsewhere. RB Leipzig's 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande has been linked with Liverpool for some time and would be a suitable, if inexperienced, replacement.
It seems it would take his £87million price tag to make a move happen, with Leipzig not budging on their valuation. Other names on the list include PSG's Bradley Barcola as well as West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, who could be available at a knock-down deal following the Hammers' relegation, but neither possesses the star power to follow in Salah's footsteps.
Liverpool could solve their place in a post-Salah world by stumping up the £100m-plus for Bayern Munich's Michael Olise. The former Crystal Palace star has been a revelation in the Bundesliga, scoring 42 goals across two seasons in Germany, but Bayern's insistence that the 24-year-old right winger is not for sale could be a huge sticking point.
Liverpool have been linked with an £86m move for RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande.
Liverpool have been linked with an £87m move for RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande.(Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Bournemouth star Rayan has been pulling up trees at the Vitality since making the switch to the south coast in January. The 19-year-old Brazilian registered five goals and two assists, making him one to watch.
Liverpool should dig deep and at least try and tempt the Bundesliga side with a huge bid for Olise, as they did to Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle last summer for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak respectively.
However, realistically, it's Rayan who would certainly give Iraola a youthful unpredictability on his right wing and would represent a much cheaper deal to pull off.
Get stars firing again
While it's true that Iraola would have to perform some major summer surgery on Liverpool, he would have an array of stars already at his disposal. The Reds spent £450m on new signings last summer, to diminishing returns.
Isak and Wirtz represent £236m worth of talent, yet their total combined return so far is a measly eight goals and five assists. Iraola needs to unlock Isak, bring him up to full fitness and get him firing again, while finding Wirtz's natural position in the side could be a much harder task.
With Hugo Ekitike on the sidelines for a considerable period due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, letting Isak take centre stage up top, with the German star behind him, where he's free to pull the strings, would breathe new life into the Reds' attack.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on March 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England.
Florian Wirtz has been blamed for Liverpool's shortcomings(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch need to discover their rhythm in a Liverpool shirt after looking leggy all season, yet the sale of the former would generate significant transfer funds. Iraola also needs to bring Curtis Jones in from the cold too, with the talented midfielder reportedly circling an exit from the club.
Losing Jones, a natural ball carrier, would be a blow, with Liverpool already lacking midfielders who can keep the ball under pressure.
Finally, Milos Kerkez, whom Iraola knows well from their time at Bournemouth together, has shown flourishes this season. But Liverpool's new boss needs to ensure the £40m man makes the left back position his own after the departure of Andy Robertson.
Centre-back signing
Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Liverpool after failing to agree on a new contract. Defenders across the continent, such as Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni and Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck, have been linked and would be marquee names to slot into the Reds' back four and play alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Schlotterbeck would be the more natural fit for the Reds due to his comfort in a back four as well as his dominance when it comes to aerial duels. Iraola should make him a priority, even if he has recently signed a new deal in Germany.
However, Iraola will know that in Giovanni Leoni, and the incoming Jeremy Jacquet, he has two of the best young centre-backs in Europe. At some stage next season, the duo should be deployed as a pairing to give Iraola a glimpse of Liverpool's future.
Dortmund's German defender #04 Nico Schlotterbeck celebrates scoring the opening goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, western Germany, on January 13, 2026. (Photo by Sascha Schuermann / AFP via Getty Images) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO
Liverpool could turn their attention to Nico Schlotterbeck(Image: SASCHA SCHUERMANN, AFP via Getty Images)
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Liverpool and Iraola also have a goalkeeper problem brewing. While Alisson is set to stay at the Reds for now, the Brazilian is 34 this year and has a concerning injury record. Question marks over his deputy, Giorgi Mamardashvili, also remain following a string of unconvincing performances this season, and his exit seems a sensible fix.
PSG's 24-year-old Lucas Chevalier would represent an astute signing to become Alisson's understudy. Although the French shot stopper was dropped by Luis Enrique mid-season, he has displayed sufficient quality and may benefit from a fresh start to revive his career.
A raid on Bournemouth
While Bournemouth won't thank him, there are several young talents Iraola should bring with him to Anfield from the Vitality Stadium. A major job on the manager's hands is finding a balance in Liverpool's engine room and he needn't look further than Alex Scott.
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola celebrates with Alex Scott during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion at Vitality Stadium
Iraola could turn to his former club(Image: Getty)
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The deep-lying midfielder has shown an ability to remain composed on the ball and even bagged four goals this season. However, he could cost around £60m and Liverpool would face competition from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.
French star Eli Kroupi Junior is coming off the back of a stunning season for Bournemouth, scoring 13 goals, but he may be a target for another transfer window given Bournemouth's insistence on keeping him for another campaign. To finalise his summer, Iraola should pluck for Scott, who would represent a cheaper alternative to Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton.
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