Crystal Palace are all set to battle Manchester United and Tottenham in their pursuit of Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.
Andoni Iraola’s future has become an interesting talking point, as the biggest clubs in the country are keen on appointing him as their next boss. According to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, Crystal Palace have entered the race for the signature of the Bournemouth boss, and they are set to rival giants Manchester United and Tottenham.
Iraola’s impressive rise at Bournemouth
After an impressive spell at Rayo Vallecano, Andoni Iraola took charge of the Premier League outfit in the summer of 2023, and he hasn’t looked back since. Under the Spaniard, Bournemouth have been very consistent. He has led them in 112 matches, and they average 1.38 points per game.
The Cherries are 13th in the Premier League this term, and they recently won 3-2 against defending champions Liverpool. While Bournemouth would love to have the 43-year-old for years to come, they are struggling to tie him down to a new deal.
The Spanish tactician’s current contract runs out at the end of the season, and he has yet to show any willingness to pen a new deal. As a result, the biggest clubs in the country are after his signature. Crystal Palace are one of the clubs that are keen on having Andoni Iraola on their bench, and they are set to battle Manchester United and Tottenham.
While speaking about Iraola’s future, O’Rourke said, “Iraola again is a very impressive manager, and he’s done a great job of Bournemouth. Palace are one of a number of clubs who are looking at his contract situation, knowing that he is a free agent in the summer. He could be a real good fit for Palace, he’s Premier League proven and a top young manager who plays very expansive attacking football as well.
“He’s seen as somebody who could take the reins at Selhurst Park and pick up where Glasner leaves off at the end of the season, but there will be a lot of competition for his signature in the summer if he doesn’t agree a new deal at Bournemouth.
“Crystal Palace are an attractive club for any manager out there, they’re established as a Premier League club, they’re obviously challenging for silverware now, having won the FA Cup last year.
“They’ll be hoping they can win the Conference League as well and be competing in Europe again next season. So it’s still an attractive proposition for a lot of managers and I’m sure the club will be looking to find the right man to replace Oliver Glasner.”
Crystal Palace want Andoni Iraola
With Oliver Glasner making it clear that he will be leaving at the end of the season, the Eagles are desperate to bring in an ideal replacement, and Andoni Iraola is considered a perfect replacement. Crystal Palace are keeping a close eye on the Bournemouth manager’s contract situation, as he will be available for free next summer.
The 43-year-old is already a Premier League-proven manager and plays an attacking brand of football, making him a very attractive option to multiple top clubs. Manchester United and Tottenham are also keeping tabs on him.
The Red Devils have appointed Michael Carrick as their head coach, but their search for a manager beyond the 2025/26 seaosn following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal continues. Meanwhile, Thomas Frank is under immense pressure at Tottenham and could be shown the exit door in the near future if things don’t improve.
As a result, both clubs are interested in Andoni Iraola. But it seems the Eagles could lure him as they have been on the up in recent years. The South London outfit can be a very attractive option for Iraola, as they are well-established in the Premier League and have won the FA Cup and the Community Shield in the recent past.
More importantly, Crystal Palace are amongst the favourites to win the UEFA Europa Conference League this season, which could help them secure a spot in the Europa League, further bolstering their chances of appointing Bournemouth as their new manager.
