MADRID: Ernesto Valverde will not remain as Athletic Bilbao coach next season, the Basque club announced on Tuesday, clearing the way for his expected move to become Barcelona’s next manager — a goal Spanish media take as a given.

“Ernesto Valverde will not continue as manager of the premier team of Athletic Club in the 2017/18 season,” the Basque club said in a statement.

Valverde’s contract expires in June, like that of current Barca coach Luis Enrique, and most expect Valverde to replace the Asturian, who in March announced he was leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu will reveal the board’s decision over a new coach next Monday. Barca end their season after the Copa del Rey final against Alaves on Saturday.

The Mundo Deportivo newspaper reported that Valverde, who played for Barca between 1988 and 1990, has already reached a deal with Barca. The 53-year-old Valverde reportedly will sign a two-year contract with Barca, with an option for a third season.

In a news conference on Wednesday although Valverde admitted there were clubs chasing him, he refused to say if one of them was Barca.

“I’m not going to deny that I have an agent and obviously there are teams that are interested in me,” said Valverde. “It is not the first time that I have had offers from big clubs.”

But Valverde said that he had no agreements with any club and not spoken directly to anyone.

“There is someone looking for an apartment for me in Rome, another who is looking for me a school in Barcelona...” he joked of the media reports linking him to a new job.

A former forward, Valverde steered Bilbao to eighth place in La Liga this season, but has decided to call time on his second managerial stint at the San Mames, bagging one trophy during his mandate — the Supercup after victory over Barca in 2015.

Valverde has coached Bilbao since 2013, previously taking the reins between 2003 and 2005, before being appointed at Barca’s city rivals Espanyol (2006-08) as well as Olympiacos twice, Villarreal and Valencia.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2017