Andoni Iraola is on the verge of being confirmed as Liverpool's new head coach after agreeing a two-year contract in principle to replace Arne Slot. The Spaniard has been in talks with sporting director Richard Hughes, and negotiations have progressed swiftly following Slot's dismissal on Saturday.
Iraola, who previously worked with Hughes at Bournemouth, favours short-term deals and is expected to bring his own backroom staff to Anfield, including assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, analyst Tom Webber, and fitness coach Pablo de la Torre. Slot's former team—Sipke Hulshoff, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and Ruben Peeters—are all leaving the club.
Liverpool aim to finalise the appointment before the World Cup begins on 11 June, giving Iraola ample time to prepare for a busy summer. The 43-year-old was the leading candidate due to his front-footed, aggressive style of play, which the club felt was lacking in Slot's second season. He is available after leaving Bournemouth at the end of his contract.
Meanwhile, defender Ibrahima Konaté appears set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer after failing to agree a new contract with Liverpool. The France international, 27, had claimed in April that a deal was close, but the club did not meet his salary demands. Real Madrid are believed to have offered him a four-year contract, making him the second Liverpool defender to move to the Bernabéu in 12 months, following Trent Alexander-Arnold.
