Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Barcelona managerial candidate will make decision over replacing Luis Enrique
ERNESTO VALVERDE will make a decision over his future before April amid reports he is being lined up to take over as Barcelona manager.
MAGNIFICENT 'Clasico' goals over the years
Athletic Bilbao manager Valverde, 53, is one of a number of candidates Barcelona want to interview for the upcoming vacant role.
Earlier this month Enrique confirmed he will not stay on at Barca after three years in charge of the Nou Camp club.
And Spanish newspaper Sport claim Valverde has been set a deadline to making a decision.
According to the report, Valverde was always likely to leave Bilbao by the end of next season but the vacant Barca spot may now accelerate his departure.
He will make a statement on his future before the end of March - but it is not likely to be a confirmation of him joining Barca, rather an outlining of his decision to stay or quit Bilbao.
Valverde played for Barca between 1988 and 1990 during which time the former striker won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the Copa del Rey.
His biggest managerial achievement is winning three Greek Superleage titles with Olympiakos.
Barcelona consider Ernesto Valverde as a viable managerial target
Valverde previously played for Barcelona and is tipped to leave Bilbao by the end of next season
Luis Enrique will leave Barcelona at the end of the season
Diego Simeone and Mauricio Pochettino have also been mooted as potential targets for Barca, who are into the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League but who are tow points and a game in hand behind Real Madrid in the Spanish title race.
Tottenham boss Pochettino has greatly impressed since moving to the Premier League - first at Southampton and then with Spurs.
Tottenham sit second in the Premier League table and look set to secure a second successive Champions League campaign.
Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?