Andoni Iraola ‘misses deadline to accept job’ as Liverpool set up meeting with manager

Andoni Iraola has emerged as the frontrunner to take over from Arne Slot, with Liverpool set to open talks with him this week

Andoni Iraola has missed the reported ’24 hour deadline’ set by Crystal Palace to accept the managerial position at Selhurst Park as Liverpool set up a meeting with the outgoing Bournemouth boss. Reports claimed the 43-year-old had until the weekend to let Steve Parish and the Eagles know of his intentions, with Liverpool’s Premier League rivals also keen on appointing him.

Oliver Glasner is set to leave Selhurst Park at the end of his contract, and Palace were keen on bringing Iraola to London. However, Iraola is also understood to be the frontrunner to take over from Arne Slot after he was sacked by the Reds hierarchy.

The Liverpool Echo understands the club are set to ramp up talks with Iraola this week, and they would like to have a new manager in position prior to the World Cup starting on June 11th.

Iraola is also a reported target for Italian side AC Milan, while German giants Bayer Leverkusen are also said to have held talks with the former Cherries boss.

Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes brought Iraola to the Vitality Stadium three years ago, when the Reds chief occupied the same role on the south coast, and there is considerable admiration at Anfield for the work carried out by the former Cherries manager.

Those close to Iraola have kept their cards close to their chest, declining to comment at this point, but Liverpool are eager to pin down a replacement sooner rather than later ahead of a pivotal campaign.