A major update on the ongoing efforts of the board at La Liga giants Barcelona to replace the outgoing Xavi Hernández has this evening been provided.
The subject of the bench in Catalunya has of course dominated the Spanish football headlines across the week to date.
This comes after Xavi dropped something of a bombshell, in confirming his intention to step down from his post.
After overseeing another damaging defeat, on this occasion at the hands of Villarreal, the Spaniard made use of his ensuing post-match press conference to announce that he would be moving on upon the season’s close.
The days following, in turn, have unsurprisingly been filled with rumours and speculation, surrounding just who could be in line to replace Xavi on the touchline next season.
The likes of Thomas Tuchel, Mikel Arteta and Jürgen Klopp have all been named as early potential successors.
If the latest word stemming from the media on Wednesday is anything to go by, though, then Barcelona could yet move to bring a manager with experience of exactly what is required to hold the reins at the Camp Nou back to the club this summer.
The tactician in question? Frank Rijkaard.
Ex-Dutch international Rijkaard of course enjoyed a successful stint in charge of Barcelona, racking up a pair of La Liga titles and the Champions League between 2003 and 2008.
He has since gone on to manage Turkish giants Galatasaray, and the Saudi Arabia national team, but has been out of work since all the way back in 2013.
As per a report from Marca, though, he has nevertheless been contacted by Barcelona, over the prospect of a 2nd spell in Catalunya’s capital.
Joan Laporta is understood to have reached out directly to Rijkaard, to discuss the terms of a reunion between the parties.
It now remains to be seen whether anything comes of such discussions, over the weeks and months ahead.
Conor Laird | GSFN
