Barcelona Striker's Departure Speculated With Ronald Koeman Set Take Over As New Coach

Barcelona star striker Luis Suarez is reported to leave Camp Nou with the club set to appoint Ronald Koeman as its new coach. With a massive revamp looming following a horrific showing under Quique Setien, there is rising speculation that the prized veteran could be shipped as Koeman eyes a midfielder to take the spot.

Koeman’s first order of business in his return to Spain is to make drastic changes in the club’s roster, and one of his top priorities is said to be the acquisition of AFC Ajax Donny van de Beek, according to le10Sport.

Another report then claimed that Koeman is not keen to work with Suarez. With him having an established connection as the coach of the Dutch national team, the former Barcelona player himself could easily bring Suarez back to Ajax where the Uruguayan stalwart played for four years.

“Amongst the players that Koeman does not want to work with next season is Luis Suarez. The 33-year-old will most likely be sold this summer and is already in talks with his former club Ajax Amsterdam,” a report read from Fansided’s Everything Barca, which added that Koeman would have to compete with Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane in the race to sign Van de Beek.

“Luis Suarez has been heavily linked with his former club Ajax. Ronald Koeman has good ties at the Dutch club as well since the player spent four seasons at the club.”

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu announced Tuesday that he is in advanced talks with Koeman for the club manager post vacated by Setien, who is sent out in the aftermath of the Blaugrana’s gut-churning 8-2 beating at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinal on Friday.

"If there is no change then we will announce Koeman as our next coach, and he will lead this team and these players forward with a different type of project, led by a coach who all Barca fans know," Bartomeu said in an interview with Barca TV, via ESPN.

Addressing concerns about Lionel Messi’s future, Bartomeu has once again dismissed the Argentine’s exit speculation as he revealed that Koeman plans to keep the star captain’s role as the pillar of the club moving forward.