Bundesliga club to rival Crystal Palace in race for Andoni Iraola

Bayer Leverkusen are rivalling Crystal Palace to appoint Andoni Iraola as their next manager, talkSPORT understands.

Iraola will leave Bournemouth at the end of this season and has been linked with a switch to their Premier League rivals Palace.

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talkSPORT reported earlier in the month that he is their number one target to replace the outgoing Oliver Glasner.

However, Palace now face competition from Leverkusen, who look set to make their third permanent appointment in a year.

They have just finished sixth in the Bundesliga, with Kasper Hjulmand the man currently in charge.

The Dane joined the club in September as their replacement for Erik ten Hag, who was sacked after just three matches in charge.

Reports claim that Leverkusen and Hjulmand are set to part ways this summer, with Iraola eyed as his replacement.

What next for Iraola?

Iraola has also been linked with Chelsea, but talkSPORT understands they have reached an agreement in principle with Xabi Alonso.

The Cherries boss has already been in talks with Palace over a move.

As talkSPORT exclusively revealed, Palace have also held discussions with former Flamengo boss Filipe Luis.

Frank Lampard has also been considered, but he looks set to stay at Coventry City after their Championship title win.

Two other names that Palace have pondered are former Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank, and Lens boss Pierre Sage.

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Marco Rose has been confirmed as Bournemouth’s replacement for Iraola, who joined in June 2023.

The 43-year-old, formerly of Rayo Vallecano, has won 48 of his 125 matches in all competitions at the Cherries.

Bournemouth achieved their best Premier League points tally under Iraola in the 2023/24 season with 48.

They then broke their own record in the following campaign with 56 points as they finished ninth.

Iraola communicated his decision to leave Bournemouth during the March international break.