- Iraola linked to Crystal Palace managerial job
- Trusting his steady defence
- New faces to add to Eagles attack
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner announced in January that he will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. In the past week, several reports have linked Andoni Iraola to the Selhurst Park hot seat.
The Spanish manager has done an incredible job at Bournemouth since joining the club in 2023, as he has taken them out of the relegation zone and developed players who have joined top Premier League clubs, such as Milos Kerkez at Liverpool and Antonie Semenyo at Manchester City.
As the end of Glasner’s contract approaches, here is a look at how his potential replacement, Iraola, could line up if he joined the Eagles.
Return to a back four
Since arriving on the South Coast, the 43-year-old manager has opted for a back four, which is different to Glasner’s back three approach.
Dean Henderson would stay between the sticks, as he has enjoyed a superb spell with the Eagles and was even named captain after Marc Guehi’s departure.
Palace have plenty of quality in defence, so defensive additions may not be necessary, with Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell playing as the fullbacks, unless Manchester United’s interest in the English left back increases.
At the heart of defence, Maxence Lacroix and Chris Richards would take their positions. Although Jaydee Canvot has been solid since Guehi left, he lacks the experience of the other two, and he’s already received interest from European clubs ahead of the transfer window.
How Iraola could shape Palace’s midfield
Palace have plenty of talent in the middle of the pitch, which would suit Iraola arriving in South London, as he uses a 4-2-3-1 formation at the Vitality with the Cherries.
While Adam Wharton has been linked with moves away from Selhurst Park over the past year, the club and potentially Iraola will be hoping that they can avoid another big summer exit.
Palace currently have Jefferson Lerma and Will Hughes as options alongside Wharton, but with both in their thirties, they might look to bring in a midfield partner.
In the past, the club have been linked to Monaco’s Lamine Camara. While it would cost the Eagles a fair bit of money, previous sales could help them introduce one of Africa’s best young talents to London.
Attacking threat
Ismaila Sarr continues to show quality at the Eagles, with seven league goals in 20 appearances, which would certainly have him included in Iraola’s starting squad.
Brennan Johnson and Yeremy Pino’s big-money arrivals have yet to reap rewards. Instead, the higher-ups could look to make Evan Guessand’s loan from Aston Villa permanent, as he has settled in well under Glasner.
Eberechi Eze’s sale to Arsenal last summer has left a creative void in their attacking areas, so that will need to be an area addressed in the summer.
The Spaniard could look to bring a familiar face in Marcus Tavernier from Bournemouth. He has registered nine goal contributions in the league this season and can offer versatility from the middle and out wide.
Jean-Philippe Mateta looks like he will finally get his wish and leave the club this summer, but the Selhurst Park outfit has already introduced his replacement in Jorgen Strand Larsen.
He has scored three goals in seven Premier League games, and Iraola got the best out of Dominic Solanke and Evanilson, which could help the Norwegian forward thrive in front of goal at Palace.
Crystal Palace XI under Iraola:
GK: Henderson; RB: Munoz, CB: Richards, CB: Lacroix, LB: Mitchell; CM: Wharton, CM: Camara, CAM: Tavernier; RW: Sarr, CF: Strand Larsen, LW: Guessand
