Liverpool, June 4:
Liverpool has begun negotiations with Andoni Iraola to be the new coach, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because nothing has been formally agreed.
Former Bournemouth coach Iraola was quickly identified as the favorite to succeed the fired Arne Slot, with Liverpool wanting its next appointment to play a more attacking style of soccer.
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has led the recruitment process.
Spanish coach Iraola led Bournemouth to European qualification this season and then walked away. Under him, Bournemouth was one of the most entertaining teams in the Premier League and punched above its weight to regularly upset high profile opponents despite limited spending power.
Iraola honed talents like Antoine Semenyo, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, who all left for bigger teams and still secured a sixth-place finish this season. Bournemouth was just one place and three points below Liverpool in the fight for the last Champions League qualifying position.
Liverpool is looking for a coach who fits its preferred playing style of front foot, attacking soccer to suit the forwards it signed last year and its targets in the upcoming transfer window.