Liverpool to open talks with Andoni Iraola and hope to make swift appointment

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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.

Andoni Iraola left Bournemouth at the end of the season (PA)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.

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.