Alan Shearer has backed Andoni Iraola to raid former club Bournemouth for two players following his appointment at Liverpool.
Iraola, 43, emerged as Liverpool’s top managerial target after Anfield bosses decided to sack Arne Slot last month.
Liverpool looked set to stick by title-winning boss Slot despite a difficult campaign but opted for a change in the dugout after an end-of-season review.
Iraola enjoyed three strong years at Bournemouth after a dismal start to his tenure, leading the Cherries into Europe last season courtesy of an impressive sixth-place finish.
All the World Cup action
Get everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day. Sign up here.
Liverpool spent almost £500m on new players last summer but Iraola is believed to want to bolster his squad even further during the upcoming window and bring in some of his own signings.
Shearer believes he could immediately raid his former club Bournemouth and beat Arsenal and Chelsea to Eli Junior Kroupi and also sign Alex Scott ahead of Manchester United.
Kroupi has attracted interest from Premier League champions Arsenal and their London rivals Chelsea after a superb season in which he scored 13 goals.
It was reported last week that Bournemouth’s initial asking price for Kroupi would be around 100m euros (£86m).
The Cherries have reportedly slapped a similar asking price on 22-year-old Scott, who Manchester United have been linked with as they look to bolster Michael Carrick’s options in midfield.
‘I can see Bournemouth players following Andoni Iraola to Liverpool,’ Premier League record goalscorer and ex-England striker Shearer told Betfair.
‘I totally understand why bigger clubs will be looking at their players because of their outstanding performances, particularly last season, though I guess Bournemouth fans will hate to hear this.
‘We’ve said it many times and we’ll say it again: their recruitment at Bournemouth has been off the charts, so it is no surprise some of their players are being linked with big football clubs.
‘That’s a great credit to them for the job they’ve done in getting those players there.
‘I said months ago that the two players I would pick out of that team would be Kroupi Junior and Alex Scott.
‘I think they’ve been absolutely outstanding this season for Bournemouth, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to me at all if they were to go this summer.’
Rating Liverpool’s appointment of Iraola, Shearer added: ‘Judging by Iraola’s performance at Bournemouth and the job he’s done there, it looks a good appointment.
‘But you’re going a million miles up from Bournemouth to Liverpool in terms of the size of the football club.
‘Liverpool is one of, if not the biggest club in the world in terms of scrutiny, how you have to play, and what you have to achieve.
‘That’s always a gamble for someone who has not managed at that level. But he also has to be backed, and he deserves the opportunity because he’s been absolutely outstanding at Bournemouth.
‘Their recruitment has been on another level, and their performances, particularly this season, but other seasons too, have been absolutely superb.
‘He deserves a shot at a big job, and this is one of, if not the biggest. It’ll be fascinating to see how he gets on. I’m not surprised they’ve chosen to go for him because of what he’s achieved at Bournemouth.
‘Does he deserve an opportunity at a bigger club? Absolutely, yes. It’ll be fascinating to see how it goes, but I’m really pleased for him because the job he’s done at Bournemouth has been incredible.’
Iraola has spells in charge of Spanish sides Rayo Vallecano and Mirandes and Cypriot outfit AEK Larnaca before his impressive stint at Bournemouth.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.