Madrid & Barca target world-class striker, Valverde's Barca contract, Neymar release clause, and more La Liga news - 26th December 2018

#5 Ernesto Valverde to quit Barcelona?

Will Valverde be the manager of Barcelona next season?

Spanish newspaper Marca have reported that Barcelona's manager Ernesto Valverde has not agreed to a new contract at the Catalan side with his two-year contract expiring at the end of the 2018-19 season.

Barcelona and Valverde do have an option to trigger a clause which will add another year to his contract, but the two parties haven't discussed about it yet. The report states that Barca are willing to give their manager time to decide if he wants to stay another year, but they will need a definite answer by February.

Valverde and Barca's board did have a meeting last week, but that was regarding the signing of a new defender, which could have possibly been the deal to bring Jeison Murillo, who signed on loan till the end of the season.

Valverde led the Catalan side to the league title and the Copa del Rey in his first year in charge of the club, while Barcelona are top of La Liga at the end of 2018, 3 points ahead of the second-place side, Atletico Madrid.