The race for Andoni Iraola has exploded into a cross-border battle, with Bayer Leverkusen now “rivalling” Crystal Palace to appoint the Bournemouth boss as their next manager.
Iraola, 43, will leave the Cherries when his contract expires this summer and has been Palace’s “number one target to replace the outgoing Oliver Glasner”.
But talkSPORT understands Leverkusen have now entered the chase, eyeing the Spaniard as they prepare for a third permanent appointment in 12 months.
Kasper Hjulmand is the man currently in charge after replacing Erik ten Hag in September, but Leverkusen finished a disappointing sixth in the Bundesliga and reports claim the Dane and club are “set to part ways” this summer.
Iraola’s stock is “skyrocketing” after transforming Bournemouth into Champions League contenders with his aggressive, high-pressing, vertical style.
Palace have already held talks and view him as the perfect fit to build on their FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs under Glasner.
Yet there’s a twist at the BayArena. While Iraola has been “cropping up repeatedly” in Leverkusen’s thinking since April, BILD reports his style “does not align with the ‘dominance football’” the club wants moving forward.
That has put Glasner himself as the “top choice” and “dream solution” for Leverkusen — creating a wild managerial merry-go-round.
Glasner is “focused on the Premier League” but with top jobs filled, Leverkusen sense “a chance to do some convincing” with the Austrian.
Iraola is also admired by Liverpool, Athletic Club, and several Bundesliga sides, but Palace and Leverkusen are the most advanced. With both clubs able to offer European football and ambitious projects, the Spaniard faces a career-defining choice.
Palace want him locked in before pre-season. Leverkusen want him to lead a reset. One manager. Two desperate clubs. The Iraola tug-of-war is officially on.
