Liverpool are set to open formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week, as they look to make a swift appointment following the sacking of Arne Slot.
News of Slot’s departure came on Saturday, after the club had told him he was being relieved of his duties following a poor season which saw them lose 20 matches in all competitions.
Iraola, who announced in April that he was leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season after turning down offers to extend his contract, is Liverpool’s top target to replace the Dutchman, and the club will now formalise their approach for the 43-year-old in the coming days.
Spaniard Iraola led Bournemouth to the Europa League via a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League as they ended the season just three points behind Liverpool. He also masterminded a 3-2 win over the Reds at the Vitality Stadium when the clubs last met, in January.
Andoni Iraola is the frontrunner to take charge at Liverpool after impressing at Bournemouth
Iraola is said to be keen on taking the Anfield job. Crystal Palace are understood to have made him an offer after Oliver Glasner’s departure and had been hoping for an answer from the Spaniard this weekend. The in-demand coach has also spoken with AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
Liverpool would become Iraola’s fifth managerial job after Cyriot outfit AEK Larnaca, Spanish clubs Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano and then Bournemouth. Should he join it may well mark a change of playing style at Anfield, with his Bournemouth side attracting admirers across the Premier League for attacking at pace.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who is also leaving the club this summer, was a frequent critic of Slot and recently advocated a return to Jurgen Klopp’s ‘heavy metal attacking team’ in a social media post.
Liverpool confirmed on Saturday that the process to appoint a new boss is underway, adding of Slot: ‘He leaves with a Premier League title to his name and our deepest gratitude and appreciation.’
Daily Mail Sport understands the dismissal came as a surprise to much of the squad, who thought he had ridden the storm of recent weeks.
Arne Slot was relieved of his duties just a year after winning the Premier League title
Slot was informed his Liverpool career was over around 11am – just 90 minutes before the club announced their decision at 12.30pm on Saturday.
He was sacked following a review into Liverpool’s troubled season that was led by Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards, chief executive of football at the club’s owner, Fenway Sports Group. FSG continues to back the pair to lead Liverpool’s football operation despite the disappointing return on last summer’s outlay on new signings of almost £450m.
Hughes and Edwards are understood to have started their review before the end of the season.
Slot was assessed along with the data behind the team’s performances. Players were not consulted and, although supporter unrest was taken into account, it is not believed to have played a decisive role in their final conclusion that the team were unlikely to improve under Slot. FSG then signed off the recommendation of Hughes and Edwards.
