Liverpool are on the verge of hiring Andoni Iraola as their new head coach.
Iraola became the early forerunner for the vacant Anfield hot seat in the wake of Arne Slot’s sacking last weekend due to his body of work at Bournemouth.
The Spaniard is understood to have agreed a two-year contract with the Reds as they aim to confirm his appointment in advance of the World Cup starting.
Sporting director Richard Hughes appointed Iraola during his time at the Vitality Stadium and has been leading the search for Slot’s successor.
Two other candidates have been explored alongside the 43-year-old by the club’s hierarchy in Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness and Pierre Sage of Lens.
But Iraola’s ability to sign as a free agent after leaving the South Coast has strengthened his candidacy beyond what he will bring to the job itself.
Liverpool will still need to broker compensation deals with Bournemouth to secure the release of his assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper.
Fitness coach Pablo de la Torre and analyst Tom Webber are also sought by the former defender as he looks to shape his backroom staff this summer.