Liverpool have formally opened talks with Andoni Iraola about becoming their new head coach.
Discussions with the former Bournemouth boss are being led by sporting director Richard Hughes.
As reported by The Athletic, Iraola was quickly identified as the clear frontrunner in the wake of last Saturday’s sacking of Arne Slot after two years in charge.
And with the 43-year-old believed to be keen to take on the challenge at Anfield, there is a growing expectation that his appointment will follow.
In the wake of Slot’s sacking, senior club figures indicated that they wanted to see a more front foot, aggressive and urgent style of football.
And there is a belief that Iraola’s methods fit the bill given his body of work during three years in charge at Bournemouth where he oversaw 12th, ninth and sixth placed Premier League finishes, as well as securing Europa League qualification for the first time in their history.
Hughes knows Iraola well having appointed him as Gary O’Neil’s successor at Bournemouth in the summer of 2023.
Despite speculation about Liverpool looking to add a former player such as James Milner or Thiago to a new-look coaching staff, Liverpool insist that no such approaches have been made.
Part of the discussions with Iraola will revolve around which staff he would want to bring with him and then Liverpool would assess what, if any, remaining gaps need filling. Tommy Elphick, who worked with Iraola at Bournemouth, is likely to follow him to Anfield.
Previous staff members Sipke Hulshoff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ruben Peeters are all leaving with Slot.
If, as expected, Iraola’s appointment is confirmed then his first game at Anfield will be a friendly against AS Monaco on Sunday August 9 (2.30pm UK time). Liverpool haven’t faced the Ligue 1 outfit since the group stage of the Champions League in 2004-05.
The Merseyside club have also announced a second home friendly against Serie A side Como 1907 on Sunday August 16 (6pm UK time), their final warm up match before the start of the new Premier League season. Como, who have never met Liverpool previously, are managed by former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
The two pre-season games at Anfield will follow three matches during a pre-season tour of the United States in Nashville, New York and Chicago.
What does Iraola bring to his teams?
Analysis by Thom Harris
At the heart of Iraola’s outstanding time at Bournemouth was a commitment to a high-intensity system that suits a carefully-crafted squad.
Once a relatively passive side without the ball, Bournemouth quickly became the standard-bearers for aggressive, front-footed pressing and athleticism, seeking to smother opposition build-up at source rather than sink into a low defensive block.
From there, they look to attack quickly and directly whenever they steal possession.
The manager demands split-second decision-making from his players, switching from zonal to man-to-man marking systems when they sense an opportunity to close in. It relies on collective cohesion from back to front, and team-mates on high alert to jump forward in support once the first player commits to the press.
The transformation has been wholesale. And though it took time for his ideas to sink in, the disruptive nature of Iraola’s approach quickly began to bear fruit.