Andoni Iraola's first signing? Offer made to sensational centre-back

Andoni Iraola is going to be Liverpool's next manager.

It's exciting times ahead at Anfield.

The work Iraola has done at Bournemouth has been nothing short of impressive, transforming them from a side many expected to struggle into one of the Premier League's most entertaining teams.

Under Iraola, Bournemouth have played fearless, attacking football and managed to secure a place in European competition, an achievement few would have predicted given the club's resources and expectations. When a manager produces that kind of success, bigger clubs are always going to take notice.

From Liverpool's perspective, Iraola appears to tick plenty of boxes. His teams are known for their energy, aggression and willingness to take the game to opponents. They press relentlessly, attack with purpose and play with a clear identity that is visible every time they step onto the pitch.

Just as importantly, Iraola seems to have the personality needed to thrive at a club of Liverpool's size. He comes across as someone capable of building strong relationships with both players and supporters, which can be every bit as important as tactical expertise.

That feeling of having a clear footballing identity was something Liverpool often struggled to maintain under Arne Slot. While there were undoubtedly some encouraging moments during his time in charge, the team rarely looked fully committed to one particular style.

At various stages, Liverpool appeared caught between different approaches, sometimes prioritising possession, other times intensity, and occasionally focusing simply on grinding out results.

That uncertainty often led to inconsistent performances. There were flashes of quality and promise, but it was difficult to see a clear long-term vision that the team was consistently working towards.

That's going to be changing under Iraola. He is someone who has always employed the same style and has a clear philosophy. He isn't afraid of taking risks and will have full confidence that his way of playing is the right way of playing.

Having a manager with that kind of assuredness is going to be a massive asset for Liverpool. But now the Reds must also focus on the work ahead.

Iraola’s approach would mean a pretty clear shift in how Liverpool play. His style is much more direct, with a big emphasis on quick transitions and playing at a higher tempo. Compared to Arne Slot, who preferred a more controlled and methodical build-up, Iraola is all about embracing chaos and intensity.

His idea of football is often described as “heavy metal” - fast, aggressive, and relentless. The goal is to overwhelm opponents with energy, win the ball back quickly through counter-pressing, and break forward as soon as possession is regained.

That kind of system puts a lot of responsibility on the centre-backs, especially when it comes to moving the ball forward quickly and accurately from the back. They’re not just defenders in his setup; they’re key playmakers in the build-up phase.

At Bournemouth, that role was crucial. Players like Marcos Senesi and Dean Huijsen were among the best in the Premier League for progressive passing in their respective seasons, highlighting how important they were in driving the team forward from deep positions.

Under Iraola, both were encouraged to play a similar role to what someone like Trent Alexander-Arnold has done at times for Liverpool, stepping into the build-up and dictating tempo from deep areas.

With Ibrahima Konate leaving, strengthening at centre-back was already shaping up to be a priority this summer for Liverpool. A player like Jeremy Jacquet might fit into that progressive, ball-playing role, but he alone wouldn’t be enough.

Ultimately, it’s clear Liverpool will need to go into the transfer market and bring in more than one defender if they want to properly adapt to Iraola’s system and demands.

So the Spaniard's first signing will likely be a centre-back and things are advancing on that front.

According to DaveOCKOP, Liverpool have been offered Illa Zabarnyi, who is reportedly looking to move from Paris Saint Germain, with the French side open for him to leave the club. The report claims that the Reds have begun exploratory talks to initiate a transfer.

Why is this so interesting?

Well, Zabarnyi played under Iraola at Bournemouth. The season before last the Ukranian proved himself to be a sensational centre-back - one of the best in the Premier League.

Now, he's available and the Reds need exactly the profile of defender that he is. This makes too much sense for Liverpool.

Zabarnyi could very well be the first signing of the Iraola era. Especially, considering it was also Richard Hughes who initially brought him to the Premier League.

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