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Liverpool are reportedly progressing in their negotiations with Andoni Iraola to appoint him as their new manager, following the recent dismissal of Arne Slot.

The Dutch manager was relieved of his duties after a disappointing season that saw the Reds finish fifth in the Premier League table, missing out on both the title and any major silverware.

Iraola has been identified as Liverpool’s primary target, and the club has acted quickly to approach the Basque coach, who is currently without a club after parting ways with Bournemouth at the conclusion of last season.

According to reports from Sky Sports News and The Athletic, discussions between Liverpool and Iraola are currently underway, while The Times states that the talks are ‘advancing’ as the club looks to finalise his appointment.

The recruitment process for Slot’s replacement is being overseen by sporting director Richard Hughes, who previously worked with Iraola when he appointed him as Bournemouth manager in 2023.

Liverpool are said to be following a thorough and structured process to identify a manager capable of implementing a playing style that complements the existing squad.

The Merseyside club has not yet approached potential candidates for the backroom staff and will only do so once discussions with Iraola reach an advanced stage.

Reports also suggest that Iraola has attracted interest from AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and Crystal Palace after his impressive tenure at Bournemouth.

Under his leadership, Bournemouth went on an 18-match unbeaten streak during the second half of the 2025/26 Premier League season, finishing sixth and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in the club’s history.

In addition to Iraola, Liverpool have also considered Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness and RC Lens manager Pierre Sage as potential candidates. However, Iraola now appears to be the frontrunner for the role, with an appointment expected later this week.