Liverpool is reportedly on the verge of appointing Andoni Iraola as their new head coach, a move that is expected to trigger a series of crucial transfer decisions for several key players this summer. The 43-year-old former Bournemouth manager has struck a verbal agreement with the Reds and is anticipated to be installed by the end of the week, succeeding Arne Slot, who was dismissed on Saturday.
Iraola is understood to have been presented with a two-year contract, with compensation not posing an issue given his departure from Bournemouth following the conclusion of the recent campaign. Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been instrumental in the process. Iraola is also expected to bring his former Bournemouth assistants, Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, to Anfield. Adding further intrigue, former Reds midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who recently left Hansi Flick’s coaching staff at Barcelona, has been linked with a return to Liverpool in a coaching capacity.
Alisson Becker’s future settled, Jones’s hangs in balance
Among the most pressing player situations is that of goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Despite being heavily linked with a move to Juventus, reports from ESPN Brazil indicate that the 33-year-old has opted to reject advances from the Italian club and will remain at Anfield for at least another season. This decision comes after Liverpool activated an option to prolong his contract until the conclusion of next season. The club had also been linked with Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili, who featured 20 times this term and whose agents reportedly touted him for loan moves to Italian clubs.
Meanwhile, the future of 25-year-old midfielder Curtis Jones appears less certain. Jones is entering the final 12 months of his Liverpool deal, attracting concrete interest from Inter Milan, who made an unsuccessful loan approach in January. Turkish outfit Galatasaray is also reportedly tracking the player. Liverpool is said to be seeking over £30 million for Jones, a figure that could test potential suitors. The situation echoes a sentiment from former manager Arne Slot, who had “intimated the club could have a decision to make this summer” regarding player movements, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
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Defensive departures and midfield questions
Iraola will also need to address significant changes in Liverpool’s defensive ranks. Key players Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate are all set to depart as free agents, leaving considerable expertise gaps. Joe Gomez is another defender whose contract expires next summer, adding to the uncertainty. The club’s other senior centre-backs include 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni and £60 million signing Jeremy Jacquet.
In midfield, Alexis Mac Allister still has two years remaining on his contract but, unlike fellow midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, has not been offered a new deal recently. Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa have also been subject to long-standing rumours linking them with moves away from Liverpool this summer. The return of 23-year-old Harvey Elliott from a disappointing season-long stint at Aston Villa, where the club reportedly avoided giving him enough appearances to trigger a £35 million purchase obligation, further complicates Iraola’s squad planning.
Sources: www.dailystar.co.uk, www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
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