Tottenham Hotspur may need to look beyond Andoni Iraola if they axe Ange Postecoglou this summer.
According to The Telegraph, Bournemouth are keen to keep the Spanish tactician for the foreseeable future, and multiple reports claim the feeling is mutual on Iraola’s part.
The 42-year-old has one year left on his contract at the Vitality Stadium but is keen to continue his outstanding job on the south coast.
Iraola came in from Rayo Vallecano with plenty of promise, replacing Gary O’Neil, who had the club flirting with relegation.
Many wrote him off after his early struggles, claiming he didn’t have what it takes to repeat his success at Bournemouth, but he has turned things around in style.
The Cherries have become one of the Premier League’s most entertaining teams under Iraola’s leadership, and he even has them in the mix for European qualification.
It’s unsurprising that he’s now on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, with Tottenham particularly determined to make him their next head coach.
However, they’ve been sent back to the drawing board amid reports that Iraola is leaning towards staying put.
Bournemouth are eighth in the Premier League table, seven points behind the top five, with as many games remaining, which places them firmly in the mix for Champions League football.
Given their recent slump, a Europa League or Europa Conference League finish could be a more realistic target, and the Cherries are six points away from both.
Iraola has a £10 million release clause in his contract, but Bournemouth aren’t entertaining the idea of losing the Spaniard and are pushing for him to sign a new deal.
It comes as a huge blow to Spurs, who are considering a future without Postecoglou in the dugout.
Tottenham have lost 17 Premier League games this season.
For context, Ipswich Town, who are all but set to return to the Championship, have lost 19.
To say Spurs have been awful this season would be the understatement of the century.
Postecoglou has his faults and should be sent packing for such a miserable record, but it may not matter who comes in if there are no changes in the hierarchy.