Crystal Palace target Andoni Iraola is being courted by Chelsea as their potential new manager. Matt Law of the Telegraph has said that Iraola is one of several managers on the shortlist.
Crystal Palace managerial target Andoni Iraola is being considered by Chelsea as a potential new manager.
Iraola informed Bournemouth that he did not wish to stay at the Vitality Stadium beyond the end of this season and he has immediately garnered attention from across Europe.
The Basque manager was linked to the Athletic Bilbao job, which has now reportedly been filled by former Dortmund manager Erdin Terzic.
Crystal Palace were the next club to have links to Iraola and there have been reports that the club have made contact with his representatives.
It has been said previously that Iraola liked the idea of another project, having navigated Bournemouth with flying colours.
The Spaniard has taken Bournemouth to the the brink of European football, having not lost a single Premier League match since January 3.
Andoni Iraola is being courted by Chelsea.And, unfortunately for Palace, that sort of form does not go unnoticed.
It follows too Chelsea’s dismal run of form that saw Liam Rosenior sacked just 106 days into his six-year tenure at Stamford Bridge.
And that leaves the club back to square one, just over three months since they opted to sack Enzo Maresca.
They are said to be taking their time to consider their options, with a change in tac likely and the appointment of a tried and tested Premier League manager.
According to Matt Law of the Telegraph, Iraola is very much on that shortlist, along with Fulham manager Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso, who left Real Madrid in January.
Law wrote: “Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso are among the managers Chelsea will make checks on as they work to identify a preferred candidate to permanently replace Liam Rosenior as head coach.
“Chelsea are in the early stages of working towards finding the right man to replace Rosenior and several names are said to be under consideration.
“Among them are Iraola, Silva and Alonso, who may all be available at the end of the season.
“Telegraph Sport first reported that Chelsea are planning to change their recent strategy following the sacking of Rosenior, and appoint a successor with top-level experience.
“Iraola and Silva have managed in the Premier League and in top overseas leagues, while Alonso has top-level experience with Bayer Leverkusen and Madrid.
“There are believed to be other, so far unnamed, candidates Chelsea are considering, and the club are ready to take their time over an appointment with Calum McFarlane in interim control.”
It leaves Crystal Palace in a position where they too will have to look around for potential new managerial options, with Robbie Keane currently the bookies’ favourite.
Iraola will almost certainly be in a Premier League dugout in August but whether it is in west or south London remains to be seen.