Andoni Iraola is reportedly keeping his options open this summer amid rumours he is the top choice to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool.
After the Reds chose not to step in and prevent Xabi Alonso from joining Chelsea, Iraola has emerged as the most likely candidate if Liverpool change manager this summer.
That is still far from guaranteed, though, with the most likely scenario still being that Slot stays on until next season.
Is Andoni Iraola the right man to replace Arne Slot this summer? 🤔
According to journalist Julien Laurens, though, that may not be a problem where Iraola is concerned. With the Basque keen to make sure he lands the right project, he could reportedly hold off this summer and join Liverpool if things go bad for Slot in 2026/27.
Iraola happy to wait for Liverpool job
Part of the reason Liverpool fans want Slot gone this summer is because of the risk of disruption to next season if he stays.
Another disastrous start to the campaign and the Reds would run the risk of throwing away yet another season, and their options for who could replace Slot would be limited, with many managers unwilling to take on such a big job mid-season.
But Laurens says this is unlikely to be Iraola’s stance. The 43-year-old has watched potential jobs at Chelsea and Man United fall through this summer, as well as a possible return to former club Athletic Bilbao. Instead of jumping into somewhere like Crystal Palace, whom he has an offer from, he could wait for Liverpool instead.
“No [he won’t stay at Bournemouth],” Laurens told ESPN FC when asked if Iraola could still decide to reverse his decision to leave the Cherries.
“It’s a good idea, and it’s a bit of a shame when you get to that point, if they do make the Champions League you would want to see him leading that team into the Champions League, that would be very special. But no, there’s no way back. He wants a step up to a bigger club.
“I think for a long time he was hoping that maybe Liverpool would get rid of Arne Slot and that would be the perfect fit for him,” the reporter added. “That’s not going to happen for now, but I don’t rule out the chance that he won’t have a club at the start of next season and he will take a bit of time to make sure that the right offer comes, which might come at Liverpool if Arne Slot doesn’t last until November, for example, that’s a strong possibility.
“But I don’t think he can stay at Bournemouth, and I think he will be very particular in where he goes next, because he wants something quite big and something that he thinks is the right project for him.”
Previous reports have suggested that Iraola is keen to stay in the Premier League following his exit from Bournemouth. Without any other ‘big club’ options, it would make sense for him to wait and see how things play out at Liverpool.
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