Barcelona ‘open talks’ with Xavi as Koeman replacement

Despite watching him sign a new contract with Al-Sadd just days ago, a report from Catalonia has suggested that Barcelona have opened talks with Xavi over a deal to replace current manager Ronald Koeman this summer.

Koeman waved goodbye to his chances of winning the La Liga title this season after his side fell to a 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday, ensuring the Dutchman lost one of his biggest bargaining tools as he seeks to convince new president Joan Laporta that he is the right man for the job.

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Of all the candidates to replace Koeman, club icon Xavi always seemed like the most likely, but then he went and threw a spanner in the works by inking a new two-year contract to commit himself to Qatari side Al-Sadd until 2023.

However, just days after signing his new contract, ARA Sports claim that Xavi is already speaking to Laporta and is set for a meeting with the president in the coming days to discuss a potential return to Camp Nou.

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RAC1 also add that Laporta has stepped up his search for a replacement after deciding that Koeman is not the right man. The Dutchman is expected to be giving his marching orders, and failure to find a replacement would be the only way he could stay on.