Kerkez has already briefed Liverpool teammates on what Iraola would bring to Anfield

Andoni Iraola is closing in on the Liverpool manager’s job, with talks expected this week following the sacking of Arne Slot on Saturday — and at least one player inside the Anfield dressing room already knows exactly what the Spaniard demands of his teams.

Milos Kerkez, who worked under Iraola for two years at Bournemouth before joining Liverpool in a £40 million deal last summer, has spoken to his new teammates about the coach’s methods and philosophy. The left-back’s rise to one of the Premier League’s most dynamic full-backs was widely attributed to Iraola’s influence on the south coast, making him a well-placed advocate inside the club.

Slot departs after a difficult second season at the helm, with Liverpool finishing fifth in the Premier League and losing 12 league games. Iraola, who left Bournemouth this summer, has quickly become the overwhelming favourite for the vacancy. His Cherries side finished sixth — one place and three points below the defending champions — despite a significant disparity in resources between the two clubs.

Kerkez has previously spoken at length about how Iraola transformed him as a player. “He helped me before the game to analyse this to get the assist,” the Hungary international told The Athletic after celebrating a goal contribution during a 2-2 draw at Tottenham, with Iraola watching on from the Bournemouth dugout. “He is helping everyone to improve as a player and as a person. I’m really thankful he has trusted me.”

The full-back also highlighted how Iraola’s attacking, front-foot style of play suited his own strengths when he reflected on his development in April 2024. “This season, I have grown a lot tactically and on the ball,” Kerkez said. “Andoni Iraola’s football is similar to what I am used to — attacking a lot and playing on the front foot.”

That style is central to Iraola’s appeal at Anfield. The Cherries play a high-energy, pressing game that draws frequent comparisons to the “heavy metal football” Jurgen Klopp brought to Liverpool during his nine-year tenure. Mohamed Salah, ahead of his final appearance for the club, publicly called for a return to that brand of football — a comment widely interpreted as a critique of Slot’s more pragmatic approach — stating that such a style “cannot be negotiable.”

Iraola arrived at Bournemouth having been recruited from Rayo Vallecano, tasked with developing the club both on and off the pitch. His work there has since made him one of the most sought-after coaches in European football, and Liverpool appear determined to move quickly to secure his signature.