If Andoni Iraola replaces Arne Slott in the Liverpool dugout this summer, as expected, he will have a big job on his hands.
Andoni Iraola is set to move from the south coast to Merseyside (Image: (Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images))
Just one year after winning the Premier League, Arne Slott was sacked by Liverpool. It’s not exactly a shocking result given the Reds’ form this season, but it means the club are in for an even better summer than originally thought.
On the surface, it’s simple. Liverpool need to find a new manager. All signs point to outgoing Bournemouth manager Aldoni Iraola. The 43-year-old from the Basque Country impressed the Cherries thanks to his fluid and fast football.
If Iraola becomes the 23rd manager in Liverpool’s illustrious history, he will have some big decisions to make. From replacing star players to building a team that can challenge on a number of fronts while regaining an identity on the pitch, we take a look at what the Reds’ next managerial candidates need to do.
Mo Salah’s successor
It is the most daunting task and the first priority is to replace the man who scored 257 goals for Liverpool. The iconic Egyptian has played his final game for the Reds as he seeks a new challenge elsewhere. RB Leipzig’s 19-year-old winger Yann Diomande has been linked with Liverpool for some time and would be a suitable replacement, even if he is inexperienced.
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Leipzig have not changed their assessment and it appears they will need an £87m price tag to make the move happen. Other players on the list include PSG’s Bradley Barcora and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, who could be available on knock-down deals following the Hammers’ relegation, but neither have the star power to follow in Salah’s footsteps.
Liverpool could resolve their position in a post-Salah world by splashing out more than £100m on Bayern Munich’s Michael Oliseh. The former Crystal Palace star made headlines in the Bundesliga after scoring 42 goals in two seasons in Germany, but Bayern’s insistence that the 24-year-old right-winger is not for sale could be a major sticking point.
Liverpool are linked with an £87m move for RB Leipzig star Yann Diomande. (Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Bournemouth star Rayanne has been uprooting trees with vitality since relocating to the south coast in January. The 19-year-old Brazilian was a player to watch with five goals and two assists.
Liverpool should dig deep and at least try to tempt the Bundesliga side with a huge bid for Olise, as they did last summer against Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak respectively.
However, realistically, Ryan will definitely give Iraola more youthful unpredictability down the right flank and will likely result in a cheaper contract.
Let’s make the stars shine again
It is true that Iraola will have to undergo major surgery in the summer at Liverpool, but he will already have a number of star players at his disposal. The Reds spent £450m on new signings last summer, but profits have fallen.
Isak and Werts are £236m worth of talent, but their combined return so far has been just eight goals and five assists. Iraola will need to unlock Isak and bring him to full fitness so he can attack again, but finding Wirtz’s natural position on the wing could be a much more difficult task.
With Hugo Ekitike out for a significant period of time with a ruptured Achilles tendon, having Isak take center stage under the hood and allowing him the freedom to pull the strings with the German star behind him could breathe new life into the Reds’ attack.
Florian Wirtz has been blamed for Liverpool’s shortcomings (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenbirch will need to find their rhythm in Liverpool shirts, having looked leggy all season, but the sale of the former would generate significant transfer funds. Iraola will also have to bring in Curtis Jones from the cold, with the talented midfielder reportedly set to leave the club.
Liverpool already lack midfielders who can hold the ball under pressure, so losing Jones, a natural ball carrier, will be a blow.
Finally, Milos Kerkes, who Iraola knows well from their time together at Bournemouth, has been in action this season. But Liverpool’s new manager needs to ensure the £40million man can make the left-back position his own following the departure of Andy Robertson.
center back sign
Ibrahima Konate is leaving Liverpool after failing to agree a new contract. Defenders from across the continent have been linked with signings, including Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, who would be favorites to slot into the Reds’ back four and play alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Schlotterbeck would be a more natural fit for the Reds given his comfort in the back four and his aerial dominance. Iraola should prioritize him even though he recently signed a new contract in Germany.
But Iraola will know that they have two of the best young centre-backs in Europe in Giovanni Leoni and the upcoming Jeremy Jacquet. At some stage next season, the duo should be used as a pair to give Iraola a glimpse of Liverpool’s future.
Liverpool could turn their attention to Nico Schlotterbeck (Image: SASCHA SCHUERMANN, AFP via Getty Images)
Liverpool and Iraola also have goalkeeping problems. Alisson is set to remain with the Reds for now, but the Brazilian is 34 years old this year and has a worrying injury history. Question marks also remain over his replacement, Giorgi Mamadashvili, following a series of unconvincing performances this season, and his departure seems like a sensible solution.
PSG’s 24-year-old Lucas Chevalier would be a shrewd signing to replace Alisson. The French shot-stopper was dropped by Luis Enrique midway through the season, but has shown enough quality that he could benefit from a fresh start to revive his career.
bournemouth raid
Bournemouth won’t appreciate him, but Iraola have some young talent to bring to Anfield from the Vitality Stadium. The manager’s big job is to find balance in Liverpool’s engine room, and he need look no further than Alex Scott.
Iraola could turn to his former club (Image: Getty)
The deep midfielder has shown the ability to remain calm on the ball and has even scored four goals this season. However, he could cost around £60m and Liverpool will face competition from the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea.
French star Eli Crupi Junior is coming off an excellent season for Bournemouth, scoring 13 goals, but he could become another transfer window target given Bournemouth’s insistence on keeping him for another season. To finish off the summer, Iraola should bring in a cheap Scot to replace Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
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