Andoni Iraola's three key Liverpool transfer targets after Reds approach

Almost inevitably, the axe has yet fallen connected Arne Slot's reign as Liverpool manager, after an end-of-season reappraisal decided the Reds indispensable caput successful a "different" direction.

The club's ownership radical outlined their tendency for a caller attack moving forward, and ex-Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is intelligibly the starring contender to pb that change.

Iraola's erstwhile squad precocious finished conscionable 1 spot and 3 points behind Liverpool to suffice for Europe, and the 43-year-old has earned admiration for integrating caller endowment aft each transportation window, erstwhile the Cherries were often picked apart.

Though the Basque brag has already held discussions with AC Milan and Crystal Palace, helium is present favourite to travel successful the footsteps of respective managerial legends astatine Anfield.

Liverpool spent £415m connected conscionable six players last summer, but Slot could not get them to gel and the Reds' bid to clasp the Premier League rubric ended successful abject failure.

So, if Iraola is appointed, which 3 cardinal players could helium motion to fine-tune the Reds' talented squad? Here, Sports Mole selects the men astir apt to articulation him astatine Anfield.

Mo Salah's successor: helping wizard Rayan 

Now the Mohamed Salah epoch is yet implicit - and they missed retired connected Antoine Semenyo successful January - Liverpool request a replacement for their 'Egyptian King' connected the close wing.

Fitting the measure is an imposing six-footer with the carnal stature to thrive successful Premier League football, and idiosyncratic who needed virtually nary clip to settee aft arriving connected England's southbound coast.

Brazil's breakout prima of 2025, Rayan made his sanction by powering past defenders and finishing with a precision belying his teenage years. After racking up 14 league goals astatine Vasco da Gama, helium was soon bound for Bournemouth. 

Now aged 19, the versatile guardant prefers to run connected the close flank, looking to chopped onto his near ft and past shoot; his close ft has besides improved, adding the invaluable enactment of going either way.

Quickly judged worthy of first-team enactment by Iraola, helium celebrated his Premier League debut by scoring a good solo goal against Aston Villa, showing wherefore the Cherries had splashed retired £25m.

That led to his archetypal elder call-up to the Brazil squad - and helium is present disconnected to the World Cup - but Rayan is not yet the finished article; possibly the cleanable mode to make is pursuing a acquainted caput manager up to Anfield.

However, Bournemouth are determined to defy offers for their rising stars, and an £87m merchandise clause successful Rayan’s declaration does not go progressive until this clip adjacent twelvemonth - truthful immoderate power to Liverpool would not travel cheap.

Solving the Trent problem: a caller Liverpool right-back

It is unthinkable to look different play of Dominik Szoboszlai, Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones being asked to capable successful astatine right-back, with Conor Bradley often hampered by wounded and Jeremie Frimpong facing fittingness issues amid inconsistent form.

After Trent Alexander-Arnold’s achy departure past summer, Liverpool request a ready-made successor, overmuch arsenic Milos Kerkez was brought successful to instrumentality implicit from Andy Robertson - albeit that modulation did not hap smoothly.

A mooted determination for Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida whitethorn beryllium shelved pursuing Slot's caller departure, but the Reds would bash good to secure another Dutch full-back.

If appointed, Iraola volition request a reliable beingness connected the close broadside of his defence, and Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries tin beryllium signed during July for a bargain interest of astir £20m.

Doubts stay whether helium is much effectual astatine wing-back - a presumption helium has agelong filled for Inter - and aged 30, helium is not a semipermanent solution; yet Dumfries does play successful a backmost 4 for the Netherlands and is suitably assertive to grip the Premier League.

Also offering nonstop moving and a important menace astatine the backmost post, his aerial quality is among the precise champion successful satellite shot - thing to see with Ibrahima Konate departing and Virgil van Dijk successful decline.

Fresh humor successful the Reds' midfield: England prima Alex Scott

Bournemouth fans would not instrumentality kindly to different raid connected their club, yet that is the Cherries' spot successful the Premier League foodchain.

Iraola has waxed lyrical astir Alex Scott's playmaking abilities, and Thomas Tuchel precocious suggested helium was unlucky to miss retired connected England's World Cup squad.

Particularly if Jones does permission Merseyside this summer, Liverpool's midfield could bash with immoderate caller blood, and the ex-Bristol City antheral possesses capable earthy endowment to marque the adjacent step.

While Scott has seemingly been offered a caller and improved contract, the 22-year-old finds himself astatine the centre of beardown involvement from respective Premier League heavyweights.

Liverpool person monitored him intimately and mightiness beryllium tempted to marque a determination soon, aft missing retired connected respective different targets successful the caller past.

Capable of taking an precocious relation oregon playing as a dynamic 'number eight', Scott ticks a batch of boxes and would surely thrive nether the continued guidance of Iraola.