Andoni Iraola backed to complete £77m transfer as fresh Liverpool appointment verdict delivered

Liverpool appointed Andoni Iraola as their new head coach on a two-year contract last week following the sacking of Arne Slot at the end of May

Gaizka Mendieta believes new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola could tempt Nico Williams away from Athletic Bilbao. Williams was long linked with a move away from San Mames Stadium but committed his long-term future to the La Liga club last summer.

The forward signed a new deal that will keep him at the Basque club until 2035 and included a release clause around £77m. But former Barcelona and Valencia man Mendieta believes Iraola could convince Williams to move to Anfield as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.

He said: “There will definitely be interest in Nico Williams and Andoni Iraola might be able to convince him to join Liverpool. There were rumours about him potentially joining Barcelona last year.

“Unfortunately, he’s had a difficult season with a few injuries, but if he performs well at the World Cup, the rumours will likely start again. He is a great, versatile player, I prefer him on the left, but he can play on both sides.

“Of course, Andoni Iraola knows him very well. There will certainly be interest if, as we hope, the World Cup goes well for him and for Spain. It would be exciting for Liverpool fans that’s for sure.”

Iraola was appointed Liverpool boss last week; the Spaniard signed a two-year contract to succeed the sacked Arne Slot.

The 43-year-old emerged as Liverpool’s top target after guiding unfashionable Bournemouth to 12th, ninth and sixth-placed finishes in the Premier League.

Iraola is also known for playing an attractive, high-energy, attacking brand of football, and Mendieta believes the former Cherries boss is the perfect fit for Liverpool.

“Andoni Iraola is a great fit for Liverpool thanks to his style, but also because Iraola has already been in the Premier League," the former Spain international told Grosvenor Sport.

“The players have already seen the style of football he plays on a weekly basis, and they have seen what it's all about.

“With Xabi Alonso, players would’ve seen him at Leverkusen, but I'm sure none of them watch Madrid or Leverkusen in every single match.

“So I think in that way, Iraola has a bit of an advantage over Xabi Alonso in the sense that the players and fans have seen the way he works in more detail, and I'm sure they'll be happy because, obviously, Iraola is a fantastic manager.

“It was also a surprise how he announced he was leaving, but there was not really anything lined up. Maybe he knew something we didn't, but it was after a successful season and getting into Europe, he decided to leave.

“It's a great signing by Liverpool as well. I think both teams will have fantastic managers but there are obviously challenging seasons ahead of them both.”

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