Liverpool have made a move to hire Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they consider their options around Arne Slot, according to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Liverpool ended a tumultuous Premier League campaign 25 points behind champions Arsenal, in what has to go down as a poor defence of their 2025 league title.

The Reds were affected by situations happening on and off the pitch, with Jota’s tragic death prior to the season starting understandably having a huge impact on the club and his teammates.

On the pitch, Slot had to do without record signing Alexander Isak for much of the season due to injury issues, while another big signing in Florian Wirtz took time to get used to the demands of English football.

Liverpool chiefs are said to be ready to give Slot next season to improve matters on the pitch with credit in the bank from winning the league title in his first season in charge at Anfield, but there are likely to be big changes on Merseyside this summer.

Two big dressing room personalities in Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson are already confirmed to be departing, while no new contract agreement has been reached for Ibrahima Konate yet, with his deal due to expire next month.

Sky Sports: Liverpool ‘Make Move’ for Andoni Iraola

According to Sky Sports Italy, the interest in hiring Andoni Iraola is ramping up.

The Spaniard led Bournemouth to Europa League football in the Premier League this season, weeks after he announced he would be leaving the south coast outfit this summer when his contract expired.

Reports in recent days have suggested that Serie A giants AC Milan are keen to bring the 43-year-old to Italy to replace Max Allegri, with the San Siro outfit also resigned to playing Europa League football next season despite spending most of the season in the Champions League spots in the Italian top flight.

Milan aren’t the only club interested in his services, according to Sky Sports Italy, with Bayer Leverkusen and two Premier League clubs, Crystal Palace and Liverpool, also making moves for him.

Liverpool Move for Iraola Could Happen in Future

According to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, any move for Iraola by Liverpool will depend on the club sacking Slot.

The Reds are said to have been given a ‘glimmer of hope’ after the Spaniard’s negotiations with AC Milan, as he appears to be ready to take his time on deciding his next club.

The Italian reporter has also suggested that the talks over Iraola would be for the future, rather than imminently, but the Merseysiders may well risk losing him to another big club now if they decide to wait.

All the signs are that Slot will carry on for now, but Liverpool are clearly sounding out their options for their next manager.

Iraola is one of the most promising up-and-coming managers in European football after the incredible job he has done with Bournemouth, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp labelling him as being an ‘elite’ coach.

Aston Villa are keen to swoop for a Manchester City player if one of their Europa League heroes moves on this summer, according to the Daily Mail.

Unai Emery’s side won their first piece of European silverware since 1982 with a 3-0 win over SC Freiburg last week. They also secured fourth spot in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at Manchester City in their final game of the season.

Qualifying for the Champions League will give Villa greater wiggle room with the Premier League’s financial rules as they now plan to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

They are still facing the prospect of selling some big names, with Morgan Rogers one player who could leave the club. Arsenal are the latest side to express an interest in the England international.

Aston Villa target Man City goalkeeper James Trafford

Another player who could depart this summer is goalkeeper Emi Martinez. The 2022 World Cup winner is under contract at Villa Park until 2029 but was the subject of interest from Manchester United last summer.

The Red Devils opted to sign Senne Lammens in a deadline day deal with Martinez remaining at Villa. The goalkeeper was dropped by Emery as speculation mounted over his future but after the window shut he worked his way back into the squad. He kept a clean sheet in the Europa League final and played a total of 49 games in all competitions.

According to The Daily Mail, Man City goalkeeper James Trafford is Villa’s number one target if Martinez departs this summer.

Trafford joined City 12 months ago and looked poised to be their new number one. However, he has found himself playing second fiddle this season after Pep Guardiola made a late summer swoop for Gianluigi Donnarumma, as the ex-AC Milan star made a surprise exit from European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Any move for Trafford could be complicated by his £100,000-a-week wages.

Aston Villa eyeing a busy summer

Villa have this week emerged as contenders to sign Newcastle United star Harvey Barnes as Emery seeks further additions to his attacking options.

The Magpies player could be tempted by the lure of Champions League football, while his family are still based in the Midlands.

Meanwhile, there is also the possibility that a permanent deal is completed for Jadon Sancho. The ex-Borussia Dortmund man is out of contract at parent club Manchester United next month and would be available on a free transfer.

Harry Wilson, who is also set to be available on a free transfer, is another player of interest to Villa. The Welsh international has not penned fresh terms with Fulham and is attracting interest from several Premier League clubs.

Manchester City are continuing with their push to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest but Manchester United remain in the race for the player, according to Fabrizio Romano.

While Man City and Man United battle, the former Newcastle United midfielder is preparing to head to the World Cup with England and is expected to form a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Anderson played in all 38 of Forest’s Premier League games this season and was a key part of the side that reached the Europa League semi-final.

Reports earlier this week indicated City were keen to wrap up a deal as soon as this week but transfer expert Romano has now given a fresh update on the player’s potential move to Manchester.

Man City ‘favourites’ to sign Man Utd target Elliot Anderson

In an update on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that United are still “calling and calling” as they remain in the race for Anderson.

However, their local rivals City “have always been favourites to sign the player” with the FA Cup winners laying the groundwork for the deal in the last few months.

Romano said: “Manchester City are still pushing and I told you in March they have always been favourites to sign Elliot Anderson. They remain on it. They already made some approaches because they want to offer a really important contract to the player, so Man City believe they can really tempt EIliot Anderson.”

City won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in Pep Guardiola’s final season at the club but ended the campaign seven points behind Premier League winners Arsenal while they were dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, losing 5-1 on aggregate to the Spanish giants.

They are now out to strengthen their squad with Enzo Maresca expected to take charge of the club.

Elliot Anderson could be ready-made replacement for Rodri

Recent reports in Spain have indicated Real Madrid are keen to sign Rodri, with the La Liga outfit eager to capitalise on Guardiola’s exit from the Etihad Stadium.

Anderson could be the perfect replacement for City if Rodri was to make the move to Spain. At 23-years-old, Anderson still has his best years ahead of him and already has a similar profile to Rodri.

According to statistics from Data MB, Anderson outshines Rodri when it comes to winning possession, while Rodri has a better duel success rate.

The pair are very closely matched in terms of key passes, progressive passes and ball carrying and with Anderson doing a lot of hard defensive yards for Forest, City will be encouraged by the amount of work he does going forward.

It has been widely reported that Anderson is expected to cost more than £100million with the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo moving between Premier League clubs for a similar amount in recent years.