Andoni Iraola 'opens door' to Liverpool move as other talks break down

Andoni Iraola will leave Bournemouth at the end of his contract, with the outgoing Cherries boss said to be open to a move to Liverpool

Andoni Iraola is reportedly holding out for the Liverpool job after confirming he will depart Bournemouth when his contract expires, just weeks after steering the Cherries into the Europa League. The 43-year-old has been linked with a string of top-flight vacancies since his exit from the Vitality Stadium was confirmed, yet the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea have looked elsewhere.

While Liverpool have no intention of parting ways with Arne Slot, Sky Sports claims the former Bournemouth boss has two particular roles in his sights. Iraola has reportedly entered into discussions with Italian giants AC Milan, though talks are said to have collapsed with the Serie A club.

It is understood Iraola harbours doubts about taking the helm at the San Siro, with negotiations having reached a dead end.

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The outgoing Bournemouth manager has also attracted the attention of Crystal Palace, following Oliver Glasner's departure from Selhurst Park at the close of the season.

The Eagles will also be competing in Europa League football next season, after beating Rayo Vallecano to clinch the Europa Conference League.

Iraola is said to be receptive to a switch to Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen, though former Chelsea defender Filipe Luis is considered the frontrunner for the role in Germany.

Sky Sports reports that Iraola has been candid with both AC Milan and Palace regarding his ambitions to manage a major club, and remains open to the prospect of joining Liverpool.

Despite a difficult campaign, the Reds' top brass are prepared to stand firm behind Slot. Liverpool stormed to the Premier League title in his debut season at the helm, but endured a torrid 2025/26 campaign.

There remains considerable uncertainty surrounding Iraola's next destination, with Bournemouth having already struck a deal to bring in Marco Rose as his successor.

Crystal Palace are also keeping tabs on Pierre Sage, Frank Lampard and Kieran McKenna, though talks with any of the three have yet to advance.

As for Slot, he has made no secret of his desire to see a marked improvement next season. Speaking after securing Champions League football on the final day of the season, he said: "Not what I would have loved us to achieve this season before we started but taking everything into account, what has happened to us this season, I'm happy that we've qualified for the Champions League.

"We, I, haven't been perfect, but I would have answered this question exactly the same in the year we won the league because as a manager you can never be perfect, a player can never be perfect.

"But all the decisions I've made throughout the whole season has been only with one idea, and that's being very well prepared.

"Not every decision can be the right one so it would be stupid for me to sit here and say all the decisions I've made were the right ones. But before I made them, it felt every time they were the right ones to make. But a lot of times I didn't even have to make decisions or choices."

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