Iraola's Manager of the Month Nomination arrives as Manchester Utd links grow

Andoni Iraola has been recognised for Bournemouth’s outstanding April with a nomination for the Premier League Manager of the Month award, but that may not be his only focus right now, because, as he prepares his side for a tricky clash with Crystal Palace this weekend, he is also being linked with a potential move to Manchester United.

Iraola has guided the Cherries through an unbeaten month, extending their league run to 14 matches without defeat - a new club record. The streak includes impressive away victories over Arsenal and Newcastle United, followed by a home draw against Leeds United. It has elevated his side to seventh in the Premier League, with a genuine chance of achieving European football.

His nomination comes amid growing speculation surrounding his future, with multiple clubs reportedly monitoring his situation. Chelsea were previously linked, as were Crystal Palace, but now Manchester United have emerged as a leading contender for his services.

Reports suggest Iraola is among the top candidates to succeed Michael Carrick as permanent manager at Old Trafford this summer. Carrick is currently in interim charge, with United still weighing up whether to hand him the role full-time.

According to a report from Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph, Iraola is highly regarded by the club, particularly for his attacking style and the work he has done at Bournemouth. There is a belief he would align well with United’s long-term vision. 

Whilst there is increasing expectation that Carrick could be appointed permanently, particularly if United secure Champions League qualification - the club are said to be cautious, mindful of their decision to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a full-time basis back in 2019.

Carrick, himself, has remained non-committal about his own situation, stating: "In terms of a deadline, it’s not something I’m really chasing. It will become clear when it becomes clear."

And regarding the Solskjaer comparisons, he said: "I've got the utmost respect for him. He's a close friend of mine and I worked closely with him when I was here. We did a lot of good things and came close. You can compare all sorts of different situations with managers, coaches and teams over the years. But it's irrelevant really. We're a different team now, irrespective of who's in charge."

It has long been known that Iraola, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season, is expected to attract significant interest this summer., but despite the speculation, Iraola has consistently played down talk about his future, insisting his full focus remains on Bournemouth’s push for European qualification in the final weeks of the campaign.