Bournemouth close to agreeing deal for Andoni Iraola replacement: report

Andoni Iraola's decision to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season has alerted clubs across Europe.

The Cherries boss announced on Tuesday that he will depart when his contract expires this summer, with several teams in the Premier League and abroad thought to be interested in the 43-year-old.

Iraola arrived at Bournemouth in 2023 and guided them to 12th in his first season, before improving on that with a ninth-place finish last term - smashing the club's record top-flight points tally of 56.

Bournemouth step up plans for life after Andoni Iraola

Bournemouth chairman Bill Foley said in a statement: "Andoni has been instrumental in shaping the direction of this football club over the past three seasons."

But the Cherries are already planning for life after Iraola and are reportedly closing in on his replacement.

According to The Guardian, Bournemouth are in advanced talks with former Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose to take over this summer.

The German, 49, has reportedly emerged as the club's leading candidate to replace Iraola and a deal could be agreed as early as this week.

Bournemouth have also been linked with Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, but that deal appears to be more difficult, with the Northern Irishman's contract containing a buyout clause and the Cherries unable to hold negotiations until the end of the Championship season.

The second tier campaign finishes on Saturday, May 2, but if Ipswich - currently second in the table - dropped into the play-offs, they could be playing right up until the play-off final on Saturday, May 23.

Instead, the report states that Bournemouth have opted for Rose, who is out of work but has managed in the Champions League with Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach and RB Leipzig.

Rose coached Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham at Dortmund, while he is a two-time Austrian Bundesliga winner with RB Salzburg, and lifted the German Cup with Leipzig in 2023.

Iraola has six games left as Bournemouth manager, with the club 11th in the Premier League and still in the hunt for European qualification.

The Cherries return to action at Newcastle United on Saturday.