Bournemouth will reopen contract talks with manager Andoni Iraola in the upcoming international break in an effort to ward off potential interest from Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Manchester United.
Iraola’s current deal runs out at the end of the season and his achievements on the South Coast – especially after losing some of the club’s best players in the last six months – have seen his stock rise.
He is a target for Palace and sources have indicated he has been discussed at both Spurs and Old Trafford – as well as for potential vacancies in Italy and Spain.
Iraola’s future
Palace’s interest is perhaps the biggest threat as they look to replace Oliver Glasner but Iraola was on the shortlist last summer when Spurs eventually decided to hire Thomas Frank and is certain to figure in their thinking if they manage to stay up.
Iraola has kept his cards close to his chest but Bournemouth are aware of how highly rated he is and want to resolve his future before the end of the campaign.
Iraola has not yet agreed an extension (Photo: Reuters)The club believe that they have illustrated their ambition and done everything they can to match Iraola’s own aspirations in a year in which they had to sell players to address issues around profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
While there is an element of confidence that they can persuade Iraola to stay, talks over a new deal first began a year ago and are yet to reach a breakthrough. Recent reports suggesting Iraola is close to signing a fresh contract are inaccurate, which may indicate he is keeping his options open.
When talks are set to begin
Talks have been paused as the club focus on pushing for another top 10 finish – with Europe an outside possibility – but the international matches coincide with a three-week break for Bournemouth and is viewed as the perfect time to reengage.
Iraola has a reputation for carefully considering his options when it comes to his career and would never have left Bournemouth before the end of his contract, whatever offers came his way.
There is hope that he will have seen the fates of fellow up-and-coming managers like Frank and Ange Postecoglou and decide that a stable club with well-defined structure and a supportive owner in billionaire Bill Foley is his best bet.
Bournemouth have managed to sell more than £300m of talent since the end of last season thanks to a smart recruitment strategy. The sales were necessary as the club’s PSR position was potentially perilous.
Bournemouth’s summer plans
The i Paper understands Bournemouth’s squad cost ratio is now around 80 per cent, which gives them leverage to invest without selling in the summer. Although Marcos Senesi will leave in the summer, and there are release clauses in the contracts of several other stars, another close season of departures is not expected.
Rayan is the perfect example of Bournemouth’s smart recruitment (Photo: Reuters)Indeed there is real satisfaction at how desirable the club has become to potential new players.
Bournemouth’s signing of Brazilian wonderkid Rayan from Vasco da Gama is viewed as a good example of that ambition. He had interest from top Premier League clubs and two firm offers that outstripped Bournemouth’s, from Al Hilal and Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Yet Bournemouth’s ability to develop players before allowing them to sign for the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, Liverpool and Manchester City has caught the eye of agents and players.
Rayan wanted to play regularly and saw Bournemouth as the best chance for that. He has a €100million (£86m) release clause that can be activated at any time but there’s an expectation that he stays for at least a season. The Cherries will hope Iraola is on the same timeline.
How Iraola’s sides could line up
By James Price
Iraola’s predecessor, Gary O’Neil, had led the side to 15th in the 2022-2023 season before departing. Iraola arrived and delivered a 12th-placed finish, creeping into ninth the following season.
The Cherries are just eight points behind Liverpool in sixth and the promised land of European football.
Iraola’s sides are flexible whilst being high-pressing – almost to a fault – with Bournemouth ranking sixth for goals conceded in the top flight this season – the same as Tottenham.
Here’s how both Palace and Spurs could line up under Iraola’s preferred system.
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bergvall; Simons, Kulusevski, Kudus; Tel
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Munoz, Lacroix, Riad, Mitchell; Wharton, Doucoure; Nketiah, Pino, Johnson; Mateta
Hence then, the article about spurs palace and man utd battle for iraola and where he s most likely to end up was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Spurs, Palace and Man Utd battle for Iraola – and where he’s most likely to end up )
Also on site :