Barcelona face fresh competition in race for 36-year-old German manager – report

If reports are to be believed, Barcelona have targeted their search for a new manager to replace Xavi Hernandez at the end of the season largely towards Germany.

It has been suggested that Barça president Joan Laporta is an admirer of the German school of management and as such, a number of German coaches have been linked.

The candidates

Jurgen Klopp has been mentioned as the dream target, but he will not be arriving in Barcelona as he plans on taking a break after leaving Liverpool.

Hansi Flick is another top candidate, with talks reportedly held with him while Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel is also in the running.

The final name on the list of German coaches linked with Barcelona is that of Julian Nagelsmann.

Currently in charge of the Germany national team, the 36-year-old is seen as one of the most talented young managers in the game and is on the Catalans’ radar.

Competition for Nagelsmann

Nagelsmann is an option for Barcelona. (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images)

This past weekend, reports suggested that Barcelona are planning to contact Nagelsmann’s entourage to explore the possibility of him taking over in the summer, once the Euros are out of the way.

Now though German journalist Christian Falk via Caught Offside reports that Barcelona will face competition from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in race to appoint Nagelsmann.

“Coach Edin Terzic (41) also has to fear for his job. Julian Nagelsmann is considered the candidate to succeed him,” Falk writes.

“In addition to Dortmund, FC Barcelona is also said to be interested in Nagelsmann.”

Nagelsmann’s contract with the German national team expires once the UEFA Euro 2024 is done this summer. There has been no decision made over whether he will continue with Die Mannschaft beyond that.

In case Germany opt to move in a new direction, Nagelsmann could return to club football, with Dortmund and Barcelona looking at him.

As mentioned earlier, the 36-year-old is not the only manager Barcelona are looking at. So, only time will tell which way they decide to go come summer.