Andoni Iraola is planning a move for Bournemouth as Liverpool’s first three transfer targets are already set.
New Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola is already making moves, with reports saying he wants to add a Bournemouth star to his initial three-player transfer list at Anfield.
Iraola was officially announced as the Reds’ new head coach on Thursday evening, taking over from Arne Slot.
While his contract length hasn’t been shared publicly, it’s said he signed a two-year deal.
He spoke to Liverpool’s official website after being appointed but won’t chat with the wider media until later this summer.
In the meantime, Liverpool are busy planning big transfers after finishing fifth in last season’s Premier League, which was a bit of a letdown.
The club has said goodbye to Andy Robertson, who’s already moved to Tottenham, and Mohamed Salah, who left on a free transfer after ending his contract a year early by mutual agreement.
Iraola is already looking at players from his former club to help replace those stars.
Though Iraola might not be deeply involved in every transfer decision like some other Premier League managers, the players brought in will definitely fit his style and the kind of team he wants to build.
According to the i Paper, Iraola really likes Bournemouth and Brazil winger Rayan and wants to bring him to Anfield.
Rayan, 19, joined Bournemouth just this January from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama. He’s adapted quickly to English football, scoring five goals in 15 Premier League games.
His strong performances earned him a spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad, coached by Carlo Ancelotti.
It’s said Iraola is a big fan of Rayan, but he might have to wait until January to make a move because Bournemouth don’t want to sell him right now.
Rayan has a £130 million (around £85 million) release clause in his contract, but it can only be used from January and will go down in later transfer windows.
Another player on Liverpool’s radar is forward Eli Junior Kroupi, but there will be tough competition from other Premier League clubs.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano shared that both Arsenal and Manchester City have asked about Kroupi, who scored 13 goals for Bournemouth last season.
Bournemouth feel confident Kroupi will stay at least another season after qualifying for the Europa League, but Arsenal and City seem keen to speed up their plans to sign him.
Beyond that, Liverpool are also interested in RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, also 19, who scored 12 goals in his first Bundesliga season.
They’ve reportedly reached out to Leipzig about a transfer, but Diomande is also linked with PSG, his childhood favorite club.