Chelsea have stepped up their move for a new manager, opening talks with Andoni Iraola for the vacant managerial position at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have been in search of a new hand to replace immediate past manager, Liam Rosenior, who was sacked after a 3-0 loss to Brighton in the Premier League.
Currently under caretaker manager and youth team head coach Calum McFarlane, who led the team to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup on Sunday, a new permanent manager is expected to replace McFarlane.
We reported earlier that the Blues have shortlisted two top fast-rising managers – Cesc Fabregas and Andoni Iraola – as priority targets for the role.
Now, Andoni Iraola has accelerated past the competition and emerged as the leading candidate to become the club’s new manager.
According to Teamtalk, Chelsea aren’t only targeting Iraola as a concrete option, but have opened talks with the Spaniard’s camp for a potential deal.
Details of the negotiations between both parties remain sketchy at the time of filing this report, but close sources suggest a deal is likely to be brokered soon.
Notably, Iraola will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season as his contract with the club expires, making him an easy option for the Blues.
Andoni Iraola’s managerial career
Andoni Iraola began his managerial career with Cypriot giants AEK Larnaca in May 2018. However, his spell with the club was short-lived after just 29 games. He won 12 of those games, drew nine and lost eight.
From the elite division in Cyprus, Iraola found himself in the Spanish second division with Mirandes. At Mirandes, the 43-year-old recorded 18 wins, lost 17 and drew 14 of his 49 matches before leaving a year later to Rayo Vallecano.
He spent three seasons at Rayo Vallecano, taking charge of 136 matches (W54, D32, L50.) His most notable spell has come in the Premier League with Bournemouth, where he has established himself as one of the top managers to reckon with.
Under his watch, Bournemouth have evolved into a formidable Premier League team, proving a tough nut to crack even against elite oppositions in the English top flight.
He led the team to finish with their highest-ever Premier League points (48) last season and has kept them firmly in the race for European football this season with landmark victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.
Iraola is renowned for his attacking and fast-paced football and his hiring as the Blues’ manager will mark a new era for the club.
