Ex-Chelsea star set to become new Barcelona sporting director

Barcelona are reportedly evaluating the possibility of former midfielder Deco becoming the next director of football following the club's announcement of Mateu Alemany's exit. 

The Blaugrana are currently in search of a new director after they announced that the current occupant of the role, Alemany, will leave at the end of the season, and according to reports, Deco has emerged as a likely replacement. 

Reports surfaced this afternoon that former Porto midfielder Deco is in contention to become the club's director of football next season. 

The 45-year-old who won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006 while Laporta was president, has a good relationship with the club's hierarchy.

He is currently a football agent and famously facilitated Raphinha's move to Barcelona, prioritising his relationship with the club as he ignored what was reported as better offers from clubs in the Premier League. 

Another reported option is Antonio Cordon, who left a similar role at Real Betis earlier in the season.

As we reported in detail earlier, Barcelona announced that sporting director Mateu Alemany will leave the club at the end of the current season to pursue a new professional project. 

Alemany replaced Ramon Planes as the Barcelona director of football following the emergence of Joan Laporta as club president and spearheaded a chain of operations that stabilised the club after it was declared "clinically dead" by Laporta, endearing himself to the Blaugrana faithful.