Koeman’s future at the Nou Camp is hanging in the balance after a dismal start to the season.
Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag has emerged as a top candidate to succeed Ronald Koeman at Barcelona.
According to the Daily Express, Barca president Joan Laporta has identified Ten Hag as the ideal candidate to replace Koeman, whose future has been questioned following a poor run of results.
The Blaugrana have started the post-Lionel Messi era in the worst possible way, currently sitting ninth in the La Liga table and their chances to progress to the knockouts of the Champions League are looking in jeopardy.
Since the 3-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in their Champions League opener, Barca have managed only one victory in the five games that followed.
The defeat against Benfica in the UCL last week raised doubts over Koeman’s continuity but Laporta soon jumped into the defence of the Dutchman, stating that the club would back him for the time being.
However, Atletico’s emphatic win over Barca at the weekend has once again put Koeman under scrutiny, and Laporta is now apparently looking for a worthy successor.
Although managers like Xavi and Roberto Martinez have been linked to the Catalan giants, Koeman’s preferred option seems to be Ten Hag, who has been impressive at Ajax over the last few seasons.
Barca are also looking at the option of signing Ten Hag next summer while appointing another manager on an interim basis.
Ten Hag garnered widespread attention after leading Ajax to the semi-finals of the 2018/19 Champions League season. The Eredivisie outfit also defeated the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus in the process.
Earlier in the summer, Ten Hag signed a contract extension with Ajax, which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2022/23 season.
