Andoni Iraola’s next move is still undecided, with Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Bundesliga clubs all monitoring him. The Bournemouth manager is not rushing anything. Bournemouth sit sixth in the Premier League with 55 points from 36 matches, and they still need one point from their final two games to secure European football.

Why Bournemouth gives Iraola room to wait

The clearest reason Iraola can hold off is Bournemouth’s own position. They are on a 16-match unbeaten run in the top flight, the longest of any side in the Premier League this season, and they are still alive for a first European qualification. Their last defeat came against Arsenal on 3 January, and their final two fixtures are against Manchester City at home on 19 May and Nottingham Forest away on 24 May.

Iraola has said, "It would be the best way to finish these amazing three seasons." He also admitted, "Especially this year, it has been really challenging for me as a coach because we've changed the team a lot and we've changed, not completely our style, but it's a different type of football comparing to last season." That is enough to explain why he is treating the summer like something to sort out later, not now.

He was even more direct about where Bournemouth stand. "We are really close, but there is a big difference between being really close and getting it and grabbing it," he said. The point is simple enough, Bournemouth are not there yet, and Iraola seems determined to see the season out before he decides anything about his future.

Palace, Liverpool and Germany are all in the mix

The interest is not narrow. TEAMtalk says Liverpool are among several clubs admiring Iraola, while Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart are also interested. That leaves Crystal Palace trying to compete with more than one serious option, even if sources differ on who is nearest.

Some reports lean towards Palace, others point more strongly to the Bundesliga clubs. There is also no formal Liverpool approach, which matters here. Arne Slot’s side are interested, but interest is not the same as an active move, and the brief makes clear that no talks have taken place.

For now, the balance of the story is still at Bournemouth. Iraola is wanted elsewhere, but his next decision only becomes real once Bournemouth finish the job they are still chasing.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →