Andoni Iraola is taking his time, but both Crystal Palace and AC Milan are moving around him. Palace want an answer by the end of the weekend, Milan are lining up a second face-to-face meeting in London in the coming hours, and the race for his next job is starting to look less like a vacancy search and more like a bidding war for time.

Why Palace want clarity now

Steve Parish has made Palace’s direction plain. “We have got a taste for it now, we want to keep it going,” he told the BBC. “We have gone up a level and we have got to try and stay there. We will have a week to celebrate and then work hard in the summer.”

That is the frame around the Iraola chase. Palace finished 15th in the Premier League with 45 points from 37 games, so their summer is not just about changing a coach. It is about setting the tone for the next step, and they do not want that decision dragging on for weeks.

Why Milan are keeping the pressure on

Milan’s interest is not a fresh idea. Their first formal contact with Iraola came on May 15, when Gerry Cardinale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Massimo Calvelli met him in London. According to the latest reports, they are now scheduling another meeting.

Iraola has already said he will not rush himself. “I will celebrate with the staff, I will go home at least for one week and take my time to make this decision,” he told goal.com after Bournemouth’s season ended. That leaves both clubs in an awkward spot. Palace want speed. Milan are pushing. Iraola, fairly enough, is choosing on his own timetable.

The Bournemouth end of the story explains why he has that leverage. Bournemouth finished sixth in the Premier League with 56 points from 37 matches, and that sort of season naturally puts the manager on bigger clubs’ radars. It is also the kind of finish that makes every incoming approach feel more serious than a standard summer enquiry.

The only real question now is which club can wait longest without losing control of the deal. Palace need a quick answer, Milan are still talking, and Iraola is not giving either side the early win they want.

FAQ

Will Andoni Iraola choose Crystal Palace or AC Milan?

The brief does not settle that yet. Crystal Palace want an answer by the end of the weekend, while AC Milan are planning a second face-to-face meeting with Iraola in London in the coming hours. His own line is that he will take his time and make the decision after celebrating in Bournemouth.

Why are Crystal Palace pushing for a quick answer from Andoni Iraola?

Crystal Palace want a decision by the end of the weekend because they are trying to keep their summer plans moving. Steve Parish said the club has “gone up a level” and must try to stay there, so the coaching call is part of a wider rebuild.

How strong is AC Milan's interest in Andoni Iraola?

AC Milan have already held formal contact with Iraola in London, when Gerry Cardinale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Massimo Calvelli met him on May 15. The club are now scheduling another face-to-face meeting, which shows the talks are still active.

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