Crystal Palace
Andoni Iraola hasn’t left Bournemouth yet, but the Premier League is already fighting to keep him.
Less than 24 hours after confirming that he will end his Cherries chapter this summer, the Spanish coach has received a big offer from Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace make the first move
Marca report that Crystal Palace have already contacted Andoni Iraola directly, offering a ‘long-term, lucrative project’ built around his football identity.
The Eagles believe that his work at Bournemouth makes him the ideal architect for their next cycle.
The club are parting ways with Oliver Glasner this summer and need a replacement for the Austria this summer.
Crystal Palace are capable of investing every summer and the pitch is a simple one. Come to Selhurst Park, build your team and lead the project moving forwards. They want to make Andoni Iraola a central figure in their project.
Offer tabled by Eagles
According to Marca, the ‘multi-million’ offer from Crystal Palace has been tabled. Andoni Iraola is yet to respond, but one is expected in the coming days.
The 43-year-old is currently weighing up his options. He certainly won’t be short of offers. The Basque coach is a highly regarded figure for his work in the Premier League at Bournemouth.
Now that he’s set to be a free agent, that makes him even more attractive. Crystal Palace are aware of the potential interest and have already table their offer ahead of the competition. They don’t want to let the Spaniard slip away if they can avoid it.
Competition from Spain
The real question is whether they can win the race. Marca report that clubs such as Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal, and even other major Premier League sides have kept a close watch on him throughout these past few seasons.
The ties to Athletic in particular, are strong. Andoni Iraola captained the side, is a club icon, and may not get this opportunity to manage them again.
Crystal Palace, though, can offer him a ‘compelling project’, substantial funding and continuity in the Premier League. The 90 miles between them and Bournemouth is not a major issue either.
Their offer is ‘significant’ in terms of both sporting project and financial terms. Now it’s time to see how Iraola responds.