Andoni Iraola is being linked with several major managerial openings after confirming he will leave Bournemouth at the end of his contract, and reports suggest he is especially interested in the Liverpool job if Arne Slot were to depart. The 43-year-old has emerged as a sought-after coach after leading Bournemouth to a Europa League place, but some of the clubs previously associated with him, including Manchester United and Chelsea, have moved in different directions.
According to Sky Sports, Iraola has held talks with AC Milan, although those discussions are now said to have stalled. The report suggests he has concerns about taking over at the San Siro, making a move to Italy increasingly unlikely. Crystal Palace are also understood to be interested, with Oliver Glasner due to leave Selhurst Park at the end of the season. Palace will play Europa League football next season after their continental success, but Iraola is said to want a club with major stature and has made that clear in conversations with potential suitors.
A move to Bayer Leverkusen is another possibility, though former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis is reportedly the leading candidate for that role. Iraola is described as open to several high-level opportunities, but Liverpool appears to be the destination that most appeals to him. Even so, a switch to Anfield is not expected soon, as Liverpool are currently backing Slot and have no intention of replacing him.
Slot’s position has come under scrutiny after a difficult 2025/26 campaign, despite Liverpool winning the Premier League title in his first season. The Reds did secure Champions League qualification on the final day, but the manager admitted the club had fallen short of expectations. Speaking after the season concluded, Slot said he was pleased to reach the Champions League, while acknowledging that neither he nor the team had been perfect across the campaign.
He stressed that every decision he made was intended to prepare the side as well as possible, but added that not every choice could be correct. Slot’s comments reflected a season of mixed results for Liverpool, even as the club maintained confidence in him heading into the next campaign.
For Iraola, the situation remains uncertain. Bournemouth have already agreed a deal to appoint Marco Rose as his replacement, leaving the Spaniard free to consider his next move. Palace are also evaluating other candidates, including Pierre Sage, Frank Lampard and Kieran McKenna, but have not advanced talks with any of them. With several clubs still searching for managers and Liverpool not expected to make a change, Iraola’s future remains one of the most closely watched storylines in the market.
