Chelsea will battle against Premier League rivals Newcastle United for departing Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez heading into the summer.
The Spanish tactician, 44, has been the subject of interest from many clubs across Europe since he decided to leave Barcelona at the end of the campaign. While the Blaugrana believe Xavi Hernandez could make a U-turn and decide to stay as head coach, they have started working on potential replacements. German duo Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann appear at the top of the club’s list, along with highly-rated Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto de Zerbi.
Nonetheless, Xavi has insisted he will not remain at Camp Nou beyond the ongoing season amid the mounting pressure on him, and such a situation has reportedly piqued the interest of Chelsea and Newcastle United. The Spanish legend, who won the La Liga title in his debut season as Barcelona boss, has admirers at both Premier League clubs.
Chelsea, Newcastle United may appoint a new manager
Chelsea and Newcastle could well decide to hire a new manager in the coming summer after witnessing underwhelming campaigns. They are languishing in mid-table, with no real hopes for a top-six finish in the Premier League this time around.
Mauricio Pochettino and Eddie Howe are both under enormous pressure and neither are guaranteed to be at their respective clubs next season, with how results panning out in the final weeks of the campaign set to dictate their futures.
The Blues, under Pochettino, lost to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final last month and will visit Wembley again to take on Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals. But, they haven’t pulled up trees in the league and lie 11th in the table. On the other hand, Howe’s Magpies are just a place above the west London side but have played a game more. Thus, the English tactician’s position has come under threat, leading to the Tyneside-based club keeping their options open.
This is where Xavi comes into the picture, with the 44-year-old impressing the Premier League duo’s top brass with his tactical nous and mentality, coupled with the ability to groom young talents. While success in the Champions League may see the Spaniard change his decision and extend his stay at Barcelona, the assurance of better spending power, control and prestigious position offered by Chelsea and Newcastle, as well as the chance to compete against the best managers in England, could entice Xavi to make the jump to the Premier League.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.