Ronald Koeman already facing Barcelona AXE with presidential candidate Victor Font wanting Xavi

Ronald Koeman is ALREADY facing the sack at Barcelona next year regardless of how well he does – with presidential candidate Victor Font revealing he will get rid of the new manager to hire Xavi

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has sensationally claimed he will sack Ronald Koeman and replace him with club legend Xavi if he is elected next year.

Koeman is set to be announced as the club’s new manager on Wednesday after Quique Setien was sacked in the aftermath of Barcelona’s humiliating Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich.

Current president Josep Maria Bartomeu is under increasing pressure at the top of the club with elections planned for the first match day from March 15 next year after they were brought forward. 

Ronald Koeman is facing the sack at Barcelona if presidential candidate Victor Font is elected

Font has vowed to replace Koeman with Xavi, despite how well the Dutchman performs

Font has vowed to replace Koeman with Xavi, despite how well the Dutchman performs

Font is in the running to oust Bartomeu as president, who has been in the role since 2014, and has not hidden his desire to appoint Xavi as manager.

Speaking on Spanish radio programme El Larguero on Tuesday night, Font announced Koeman will be fired and replaced by Xavi if he is elected, regardless of how the former Everton and Southampton manager does. 

Xavi is currently cutting his teeth in his first managerial role with Qatar’s Al-Sadd. 

Koeman was pictured at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport on Tuesday afternoon as he prepares to be confirmed as the club’s new manager.

Font is in the running to oust Josep Maria Bartomeu as president, with elections now in March

Font is in the running to oust Josep Maria Bartomeu as president, with elections now in March

The 57-year-old, who played for the Spanish giants between 1989 and 1995 will leave his position as manager of the Dutch national team.  

He faces a significant rebuilding job at the Nou Camp with the club currently in crisis after their 8-2 defeat by Bayern in Lisbon.

Koeman will also have to navigate a ruthless clear out of the playing squad with Bartomeu announcing on Tuesday that only eight players were safe from the axe.

They include Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong and Ansu Fati but wholesale changes are required to bring the club back to the summit of Spanish and European football.

Technical secretary Eric Abidal has also lost his job after consistently poor recruitment in the transfer market. 

More to follow. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk