Joan Laporta has reportedly identified Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel as one of the men he wants to take over the helm at Barcelona.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Tuchel is directly in the Barca president’s vision.
Is Koeman a gone man?
The Camp Nou is witnessing one of the worst periods of its illustrious modern history.
Ronald Koeman returned to his former club last August, aiming to heave the Spaniards from their ruins.
Unfortunately, the Dutch manager could only haul Barca slightly out of the furnace.
In his first season, Koeman won the Copa del Rey and finished third in La Liga.
This was a marginal improvement on the previous campaign, where the side failed to win any silverware for the first time since 2008.
But Koeman is under the cosh again following Barca’s second successive 3-0 Champions League defeat, the latest at the hands of Benfica.
Unsurprisingly, the hungry wolves are barking at his door, with the angry mob waving pitchforks not far behind.
Barca looking in the Blues direction
A list of potential replacements has already been compiled, a catalogue that includes a Chelsea section.
From the mouth of Mundo Deportivo, Tuchel is a man Laporte would like to claim for himself.
And can you blame the Barca chief?
Chelsea’s transformation in the wake of their new boss deserves nothing but praise.
Once a peculiar mid-table Premier League outfit, the Blues are now reigning champions of Europe.
Not to mention being favourites to clinch the domestic crown off Manchester City.
All thanks to Tuchel, who has taken a squad of superstars and assembled them accordingly.
How much Barca could do with a similar makeover is not even up for debate.
Unfortunately for Laporte, Tuchel’s Chelsea contract does not run out until 2024.
There also must be a question over why Tuchel would leave Chelsea for Barcelona at this moment in time.
The move to the Nou Camp was once considered one of the most attractive in football, but they have extremely limited funds right now and look set to spend years in the wilderness.
Barca may well be strong admirers of Tuchel, but we can’t see him leaving Chelsea any time soon.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
