Liverpool have reached a verbal agreement with Andoni Iraola to make him their new head coach.
Iraola quickly emerged as the clear favourite to take over at Anfield after Saturday’s departure of Arne Slot.
The Spaniard, 43, can be expected to join on a two-year contract — in line with both of the deals he signed while in charge of Bournemouth — according to multiple sources briefed on the situation.
Iraola had been due to leave the south coast club when his terms expire at the end of this month and work continues over the make-up of his backroom staff.
He wants to be accompanied by Pablo de la Torre, Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Tom Webber, who were all members of his coaching and backroom staff at Bournemouth.
If all goes to plan, Liverpool will appoint and present Iraola before the week concludes.
The Athletic reported earlier on Tuesday discussions with Iraola have been led by sporting director Richard Hughes, who knows Iraola well having appointed him as Gary O’Neil’s successor at Bournemouth in the summer of 2023.
During his three years in charge at Bournemouth, Iraola oversaw 12th, ninth and sixth placed Premier League finishes, as well as securing Europa League qualification for the first time in their history.
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.