Liverpool lead four-club race for Iraola with Elphick demand shaping Anfield talks

Liverpool have moved quickly to install Andoni Iraola as the leading candidate to replace sacked manager Arne Slot, with sporting director Richard Hughes spearheading talks to bring the Spaniard to Anfield.

Slot was dismissed at the weekend following an underwhelming season that saw Liverpool collect 24 points fewer than their title-winning campaign in 2025. Hughes, who was instrumental in bringing Iraola to the Premier League during his time at Bournemouth, has retained a strong relationship with the coach’s agent, Inaki Ibanez, giving Liverpool a significant advantage in negotiations, according to The Times.

Iraola, 43, departs Bournemouth having guided the club to European football for the first time in their history. His exit had been announced several months ago, and he was swiftly identified as Slot’s most likely successor. Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen had all previously attempted to lure him away from the south coast, but Liverpool’s early and direct approach appears to have placed them firmly ahead of the field.

Should a deal be agreed, Iraola is expected to request that Tommy Elphick — a former Bournemouth player, lifelong Liverpool supporter, and one of his trusted assistants — accompanies him to Merseyside. Elphick remains under contract at Bournemouth but turned down the opportunity to take charge at Bristol City last week, leaving the door open for a move north.

Slot’s backroom staff, including assistants Sipke Hulshoff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ruben Peeters, are all expected to leave the club following the Dutchman’s departure. Slot himself had indicated he believed he would remain in post despite a difficult second season, making his dismissal something of a surprise.

Liverpool’s search for a new head coach comes amid significant squad upheaval. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have both departed when their contracts expired, leaving considerable gaps after years of service. Salah, in the weeks before his exit, had publicly called for a return to more aggressive, front-foot football — widely interpreted as a criticism of Slot’s increasingly unpopular style at Anfield.

Iraola fits the profile Liverpool are targeting: a coach known for high-intensity, attacking football. The club spent more than £400 million on new talent last summer, and the expectation will be that their next manager can harness that investment more effectively.