Richard Hughes can't miss deal for ideal Arne Slot successor who he knows very well | OneFootball

There has been much speculation recently around the future of head coach Arne Slot.

Slot, 47, has been in charge since 2024 - succeeding Jurgen Klopp and leading Liverpool to the Premier League title at the first attempt.

But things have gone badly awry for the Dutchman in his second campaign with the Reds struggling to re-qualify for the Champions League.

They have also suffered humiliation in both domestic cups while Champions League elimination to Paris Saint-Germain is likely to occur next week.

Accordingly it has been suggested that FSG may opt to make a change in the dugout this summer when Slot will have only one year left on his contract.

And while Xabi Alonso is some fans’ preferred candidate to arrive perhaps the best possible replacement for Slot is lurking in the Premier League.

Andoni Iraola set to become free agent

And - in a welcome development for Liverpool should they wish to appoint him - Andoni Iraola is going to be a free agent.

A report in the iPaper this week claimed that the Bournemouth head coach was well-liked by certain decision-makers inside Anfield.

Indeed it was Richard Hughes - then Bournemouth’s technical director - who oversaw the Spaniard’s arrival back in 2023.

He is not going to sign a new contract on the south coast and looks set to depart for a new challenge this summer.

“There is also enthusiasm in some quarters of the Liverpool brains trust about the work of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who is set to be a free agent in the summer,” the report reads.

Richard Hughes knows Iraola VERY well

Iraola has worked wonders at Bournemouth - turning players like Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Dango Ouattara, Antoine Semenyo and more into multi-million-pound assets. He is currently working wonders with Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott.

And despite losing key players season after season he has kept the Cherries competitive and this season they look a good bet for European football too.

Having endured a long, winless streak earlier this season Bournemouth now haven’t been defeated in the league since January 3. Their most recent outing was a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates - badly damaging the Gunners’ hopes for the title.

Don’t forget their victory over Slot’s Liverpool earlier this season either - where Iraola once again demonstrated his capacity for getting results against so-called favoured teams.

With Slot’s future in doubt and Iraola set to become available Richard Hughes could do a lot worse than pick up the phone and make contact with the man he hired once before.