Athletic Bilbao have announced that coach Ernesto Valverde, who is expected to take over at Barcelona, is leaving the club.
Valverde is believed to be the front-runner to replace Luis Enrique at the Nou Camp, with the Catalan giants set to reveal who their new coach is next Monday.
The chances of that being Valverde, a former Barca player, increased on Tuesday night with Athletic confirming the 53-year-old will not be in charge of the Basque outfit next season.
A brief club statement read: ‘Ernesto Valverde will not continue as coach of the first team of Athletic Club in the 2017/18 campaign.
‘The coach, accompanied by president Josu Urrutia, will hold a press conference on Wednesday, May 24 at 1200 (local time) at San Mames.’
Bilbao finished seventh in La Liga this season, and will qualify for the Europa League if Barcelona beat Alaves in the Copa del Rey final.
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