Man United handed Andoni Iraola boost as Athletic Club hold Edin Terzic talks

Manchester United look to have one less competitor for Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola’s services as Athletic Club eye a move to appoint Edin Terzic as their new manager.

Iraola has been linked to a whole host of top clubs over the last few months amid uncertainty around his future at Bournemouth.

He led the Cherries to a 12th-placed Premier League finish in his first season in charge, then they challenged for Europe last term but just came up short and eventually finished ninth.

Bournemouth are 13th in the top flight as it stands and still hold a good chance of finishing in the European places, but Iraola’s contract is set to end in the summer and talks over a new deal have not progressed.

Iraola could be Man United’s next manager as they eye him ahead of the summer, and their chances of hiring him have been handed a boost as Athletic Club can now seemingly be ruled out of a move to do so anytime soon.

Athletic Club unlikely to appoint Andoni Iraola as Edin Terzic named as main target

Iraola was born and raised in the Basque Country and came through Bilbao’s youth system, then went on to make over 500 appearances for their first team between 2003 and 2015.

He is clearly likely to hold a deep affection for the club, so talk of him returning emerged when news broke last week that current Athletic manager Ernesto Valverde is set to step down at the end of this season.

Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg has now reported that former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic is currently the top favourite for the Bilbao job next season, and is very open to the move.

Talks with the German boss are already believed to be at an advanced stage, and so it does seem as if Iraola will not be leaving Bournemouth for the Basque Country.

Michael Carrick is still a top contender to land the United job permanently, but they are still weighing up a move for Iraola, with one less rival to consider if they do wish to progress with his appointment this summer.

What has Iraola said about his own future and Bilbao links?

Iraola may not be on his way back to Bilbao, but concerns over his future are set to remain prevalent until he signs a new Bournemouth contract.

Former CEO of Everton and Aston Villa has exclusively revealed to Football Insider that an extension for Iraola at Bournemouth is “likely”, but United remain linked to him as it stands.

The 43-year-old chose to distance himself from returning to Athletic Club in an interview last week, while he also stressed that he has only spoken to Bournemouth about his future beyond this summer.

He said: “It affects me probably as a supporter because I support this club. Obviously I’ve been playing there for a lot of years and (Valverde leaving) has been a surprise also for me.

“I have a lot of friends there, and in your group, you see the news and they send you their messages.

“I can only speak very well. It’s my biggest reference in football, Ernesto. So it’s a decision that he has made, but it’s not affecting me, apart from the supporter side let’s say.

“I think there are situations that I said a lot of times, we have to discuss with the club internally, but it’s not about any other club, it’s about Bournemouth, and these are the only discussions that we are having.”

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