The search for a coach at Bundesliga soccer club Bayer Leverkusen is apparently nearing completion. As the “kicker” reports, the factory club is in “final negotiations” with the Spaniard Andoni Iraola from AFC Bournemouth.
The 43-year-old is set to be the successor to Dane Kasper Hjulmand, who is facing retirement despite a contract that runs until 2027.
After the rejection of the Brazilian Filipe Luis, who according to media reports is about to sign with AS Monaco, Bayer is also said to be “pushing” for a commitment from Iraola and hoping for a “quick confirmation”, according to “Sky”.
Oliver Glasner, who won the Conference League title with Crystal Palace on Wednesday, is also a candidate in Leverkusen, according to media reports.
Iraola, like Bayer’s master coach Xabi Alonso Baske, has set a new points record with Bournemouth in each of his three years at AFC and was most recently undefeated in 18 Premier League games.
Bournemouth narrowly missed qualifying for the Champions League as sixth in the table. Iraola had already announced his departure in April, and former Dortmund and Leipzig coach Marco Rose is taking over the Spaniard’s position.
In Leverkusen, Hjulmand, who took over Bayer after the second Bundesliga matchday last season, is about to leave due to a weak second half of the season and sixth place in the table.
