Liverpool are looking to open formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week as they step up their interest in appointing the Spaniard as the successor to the sacked Arne Slot.
VfB Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Lens’ Pierre Sage are also under consideration at Anfield but Iraola is the early frontrunner to take over after Slot was dismissed on Saturday.
Now Liverpool are moving quickly as they seek to make a quick appointment and, unlike Hoeness and Sage, the 43-year-old is available after leaving Bournemouth following a season in which he took them to sixth place, the highest finish in their history.
He was headhunted by Liverpool director of football Richard Hughes for Bournemouth in 2023, following a successful three-season spell in charge of Rayo Vallecano.
But Liverpool face competition for Iraola, with AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen also showing an interest and Crystal Palace making strenuous attempts to appoint him as the replacement to the departing Oliver Glasner.
Iraola also worked with Liverpool left-back Milos Kerkez at Bournemouth, helping the Hungary international earn his move to Anfield.
In an end-of-season review that led to Slot’s departure, Liverpool concluded they wanted more urgent and aggressive football – which could suit Iraola’s high-paced style of play.
Meanwhile, some of Slot’s backroom staff are following him out, with performance coach Ruben Peeters confirming he is leaving. Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Sipke Hulshoff are also expected to depart.
The 47-year-old, who won the Premier League in his first season in charge, was axed after Liverpool slipped to fifth place this season, earning only 60 points and losing 19 games in all competitions.
