Andoni Iraola ‘assessing his options’, he could quit Bournemouth ‘sooner than expected’
Andoni Iraola could leave Bournemouth sooner than expected and is considering his options following a difficult run of form at the Vitality Stadium.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that the 43-year-old knows he will have suitors away from Bournemouth.
This comes as Bournemouth chiefs are sweating over Iraola’s contract with no new deal signed and his current terms set to expire at the end of the season.
Bournemouth drew 1-1 with Burnley last time out and have now failed to win any of their last eight games, raising frustrations about their displays.
With question marks surrounding their recent performances and the manager’s future, vultures have begun to circle, with the likes of Man United interested.
Andoni Iraola could quit Bournemouth
Brown told Football Insider on 22 December that Iraola is under pressure at Bournemouth as a result of their miserable turn of form lately.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience working closely alongside elite-level managers including Sir Alex Ferguson for over a decade at Man United, insisted that the Cherries boss is now weighing up his options for the future.
“I don’t think there’s any immediate threat of him losing his job,” he told Football Insider.
“He’s got a lot of credit in the bank so it would be a shock if there was.
“The realists, if there are any left in the game, will look at the situation he’s in, all of the players who left in the summer, and the job he’s done in those circumstances.
“Now it’s time for them to get behind him and support him, that would be the sensible reaction and it’s the path I think Bournemouth will take.
“From his point of view, he’ll be looking at the situation he’s in there.
“Results have dipped a bit recently, does he think that’s something he can resolve, or is it a deeper issue with the club that might be a long-term thing?
“Based on what he thinks and how he feels, that will decide his future.
“With his contract up at the end of the season, he will be assessing his options and maybe he’ll leave Bournemouth sooner than many people expected.
“He has a lot of admirers which we’ve spoken about before, so that will give him a decision to make.”
Iraola contract update emerges at Bournemouth
Brown told Football Insider in October that Bournemouth hope to prevent Iraola joining Man United, as he emerged as a contender to replace Ruben Amorim.
The offer of a new contract was floated during the summer as a result of those fears over his future, but he has yet to commit to new terms.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils have now reaffirmed their commitment to Amorim, but remain long-term admirers of the Spaniard for his work on the south coast.
Tottenham were also considering Iraola as their replacement for Ange Postecoglou, before deciding to push forward with Thomas Frank’s appointment.
Frank is now under pressure at Tottenham, and the interest in the Bournemouth manager could soon be revisited, as he has no shortage of options.
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