Mauricio Pochettino has reportedly emerged as a candidate to become Barcelona's next head coach.

Ernesto Valverde remains in charge of first-team affairs at Camp Nou, but the 55-year-old's future in Catalonia is currently the subject of much speculation.

Former Barca captain Xavi has been strongly linked with the role, and a recent report claimed that the Al-Sadd boss had already agreed a deal to replace Valverde at the end of the season.

However, according to RAC1, Pochettino is also being considered by the Spanish champions as a possible appointment despite the Argentine's links with Espanyol.

The 47-year-old claimed back in 2018 that he would never manage Barca having represented their Catalan rivals Espanyol on 254 occasions as a player before managing the club between 2009 and 2012.

The report, though, claims that FCB president Josep Maria Bartomeu views the South American as the ideal candidate to take the club forward.

Pochettino, who also continues to be linked with the Manchester United job, has been without a position since being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in December 2019.