Liverpool are frontrunners to land Andoni Iraola, who is not without his suitors, and the Spaniard will want to bring one of his former Bournemouth assistants with him
Andoni Iraola is the leading candidate to be the next Liverpool boss
Andoni Iraola is the leading candidate to be the next Liverpool boss(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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Liverpool are leading the race for Andoni Iraola as they seek to fend off any competition to appoint the Spaniard as Arne Slot's replacement.
The Reds have wasted no time in going after the ex-Bournemouth boss, who has just guided the Cherries to Europe for the first time in their history. Iraola's departure was announced several months ago and he was quickly installed as the frontrunner to replace Slot.
Liverpool sacked the Dutchman at the weekend after an underwhelming season and quickly sounded out Iraola, who is not without his admirers. The Anfield outfit had a trump card in sporting director Richard Hughes, who was responsible for bringing Iraola to the Premier League when he was at Bournemouth.
Previously the 43-year-old had been on the radars of Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen, who all tried to tempt him into taking vacancies with them. Hughes has retained a strong relationship with his agent, Inaki Ibanez, and he is leading negotiations to keep Iraola in the English top flight, reports The Times.
Liverpool are eyeing a coach who can play on the front foot and deliver intense football, which was something Mohamed Salah called for a return to in the weeks before his exit, which was seen as a swipe at Slot. The Dutchman's style became increasingly unpopular at Anfield.
Iraola is expected to want to bring assistant Tommy Elphick, a former Bournemouth player and lifelong Liverpool fan, with him if he does take the job. He is under contract at Bournemouth but did turn down the chance to take over at Bristol City last week, meaning a move to Merseyside could still take place.
Arne Slot has been shown the door by Liverpool
Arne Slot has been shown the door by Liverpool(Image: Jacob King/PA Wire.)
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Slot’s assistants Sipke Hulshoff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ruben Peeters are all poised to leave the club. Slot's dismissal comes as something of a shock, the ex-Feyenoord boss himself suggested that he thought he was poised to remain in his post despite his difficult second campaign.
Liverpool have seen Salah and Andy Robertson depart Anfield when their contracts expire, leaving huge holes given their years of service. The club bought in more than £400million worth of talent last summer, but they still picked up 24 points fewer than their champion year in 2025.
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