Barcelona sporting director discusses Jurgen Klopp links amid new manager search

Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted the club are yet to hold talks with any potential replacements for outgoing manager Xavi.

Xavi will depart the club at the end of the season, citing mental fatigue as the reason for his upcoming departure, and speculation has been rife as to who the cash-strapped Catalonians will recruit as his replacement.

Jurgen Klopp, who will leave Liverpool in the summer, is among the most high-profile potential targets, but Deco refused to be drawn on the speculation and revealed the process of finding a new manager has not even started yet.

"Klopp is a top coach, but I don't think this is the moment to speak about it," he told La Vanguardia. "The new coach will want to make changes, but first we will have to explain the project and the ideas to him. There are many options."

Among the other options are Thiago Motta, who has impressed at Bologna, and Barca Atletic boss Rafa Marquez, who recently admitted he would be unable to turn down the offer of a promotion at the club.

"I don't follow Motta's work much because he is not in an Italian team that I usually watch," Deco confessed. "I do with Marquez, because he is here. He is a young coach who is growing in the face of difficulties. Being here will make him a better coach."

Deco continued: "At the moment, we have not spoken with any coaches. We are still processing Xavi's departure.

"[The new manager] has to follow a line of work. We will never be a team that does not want to play well, that does not want to have the ball. Starting from that idea, each coach has their characteristics, but whoever comes has to have the ambition and hunger to do great things and know what they are coming into."

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