Thiago and James Milner linked with Liverpool returns as Andoni Iraola arrives to finalise two-year deal | OneFootball

Spaniard is expected to take charge of Liverpool by the end of the week

Andoni Iraola has arrived on Merseyside to finalise the details on his appointment as Liverpool’s new head coach.

The 43-year-old flew into Liverpool John Lennon Airport on a private jet from San Sebastian in his Basque homeland and was driven away in a silver people carrier shortly afterwards.

Iraola is understood to have agreed a two-year deal to succeed Arne Slot, who was surprisingly sacked on Saturday.

A statement read: “We can only wish Arne well in the next stage of his coaching career, with our expectation being that he will continue to be successful.

“We do so in the knowledge that his Liverpool legacy is intact and will become yet more meaningful in the years and decades to come.

“Nevertheless, the conclusion we have come to is built on a belief that the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction. That does not diminish the work Arne has done here, or the respect we have for him.

Iraola was quickly identified as the club’s primary target and negotiations were able to be conducted swiftly as the Spaniard is out of contract having guided Bournemouth to sixth place and a maiden European campaign and Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes already has a relationship with him having appointed him for the Cherries three years ago.

It is understood Iraola wants to bring assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, analyst Tom Webber and fitness coach Pablo de la Torre with him to Merseyside.

Andoni Iraola is closing in on becoming the next Liverpool head coach

Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Former Liverpool players Thiago Alcantara and the recently-retired James Milner have been linked with coaching roles, but the make-up of the backroom staff will remain a decision for Iraola.

The appointment is in line with the club’s desire to move back towards a more aggressive, front-foot, urgent style of football which they lost during Slot’s second season and which ultimately cost him his job.