Andoni Iraola edges towards Crystal Palace appointment amid Bournemouth contract latest

The chances of Crystal Palace appointing AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as their next boss are growing increasingly likely.

The Spanish boss is out of contract at the Vitality Stadium at the end of the season, and as a result, there has been plenty of speculation as to who he will be in charge of come the opening day of the 2026-27 campaign.

Iraola has been linked with the positions at Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle in recent weeks, while he has also now emerged as one of the favourites to take the reins at Selhurst Park.

Palace are searching for a new boss ahead of Oliver Glasner’s departure at the end of the season, and they may get the chance to secure a big coup and bring in Iraola.

Andoni Iraola’s odds slashed as he joins Crystal Palace favourites

Iraola has become one of the Premier League’s most sought-after bosses due to the way that his Bournemouth team have progressed in recent years.

The 43-year-old led the Cherries to 12th at the end of his first season in charge back in 2023-24, before going one better and recording a ninth-placed finish last term, despite several key players departing.

The turnover in his squad continued once again ahead of this season, but the South Coast outfit are on course for a top-10 finish with nine league games to play.

Iraola’s work at the Vitality Stadium has seen him increasingly linked with jobs elsewhere in the Premier League, with Crystal Palace the latest team to be tipped to name him as their next boss.

He is now edging closer towards being appointed at Selhurst Park in the eyes of one of the UK’s leading bookmakers, who have slashed his odds of taking charge of the Eagles down to 14/1, as of 4 March.

That sees Iraola become one of the favourites to take on the job, with Robbie Keane still viewed as the leading candidate at the moment.

Bournemouth won’t lose Iraola without a fight

Football Insider revealed last week that Bournemouth remain confident of keeping Iraola, despite the consistent speculation that he could be set to move away once his deal expires.

The former Rayo Vallecano chief is also expected to have plenty of suitors back in his homeland, if he is keen to explore a different challenge after three seasons in the Premier League.

Bournemouth are running out of time to tie their boss down to a new deal, yet there is still a growing sense of optimism behind the scenes at the club that all hope is not lost in relation to his future.

Iraola’s reputation within the game is stronger than ever, but Bournemouth are certainly not giving up hope of keeping him for at least another season or two.

However, losing him to Palace, rather than one of Europe’s elite clubs, would undoubtedly represent a major blow.

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