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Andoni Iraola has emerged as the top contender to take charge at Liverpool after the club dismissed Arne Slot from his position as head coach last week.

The Dutch manager was relieved of his duties just a year after steering the Reds to the Premier League title, but his role became untenable by the conclusion of the season.

During the final stretch of the campaign, Liverpool faced heavy criticism from supporters, who expressed frustration with the team’s lacklustre style of play, often booing them off the pitch.

Despite finishing fifth in the Premier League and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, Liverpool ended the campaign 15 points adrift of leaders Arsenal and finished trophyless.

It was a steep decline from the previous season, with the Reds collecting 24 fewer points — the biggest drop experienced by any ever-present Premier League club over consecutive seasons.

Slot ultimately paid the price for this downturn, especially after the club invested a record £442 million in new signings the previous summer. Iraola now appears poised to step into the role, with reports indicating that talks are already underway.

According to both The Guardian and The Times, Liverpool plan to hold “formal discussions” with Iraola this week regarding the possibility of him becoming their next head coach.

The club is eager to act swiftly in appointing a successor, aiming to speak with their “preferred candidates at the earliest opportunity.” Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Lyon’s Pierre Sage are also expected to be approached, though Iraola remains the clear favourite to fill the vacancy.

Liverpool are determined to have their new manager in place before the World Cup begins so that preparations for the upcoming season can start promptly.

The urgency stems from Iraola’s growing popularity across Europe. AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and Crystal Palace have all expressed interest in hiring the former Bournemouth manager.

During his three-year spell at Bournemouth, the Basque coach delivered remarkable success, leading the club to their best-ever Premier League finish and securing European football for the first time in their history.

There’s also a notable Bournemouth link within the Liverpool hierarchy. Sporting director Richard Hughes, who is spearheading the managerial search, is a former Bournemouth player and previously served as the club’s technical director after retiring. Hughes was instrumental in bringing Iraola to England three years ago.

Iraola’s availability gives Liverpool a further advantage, as his contract expires at the end of this month. In contrast, Hoeness and Sage are currently under contract with Stuttgart and Lyon, meaning compensation would be required if Liverpool were to recruit either of them.