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Ronald Koeman is clinging on to his job at Barcelona because the club cannot afford to get rid of him. If that situation changes next month then another former Everton coach, Roberto Martinez, is the man the board want to bring in to replace him.
Barcelona cannot sack Koeman without paying out around £10million (€12m) to the 58-year-old coach. This sum includes paying up his contract and a compensation that he had to pay to the Dutch Football Federation when he left that role to take over at the Nou Camp at the start of last season.
Hiring Martinez would please supporters mourning the passing of Barcelona’s distinctive playing style and he is interested in the job, but getting him would involve paying compensation to another international association - this time the Belgium Football Federation.
Ronald Koeman is clinging on to his job at Barcelona because the club can't afford to sack him
Next month will be key in deciding if Koeman stays in charge. Barcelona are away at Cadiz on Thursday and home to Levante on Sunday. They then face Benfica away in the Champions League and go to Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.
If Koeman can navigate a way through those four games keeping the team in contention for Champions League qualification and in the title race, then he is likely to stay in charge with the club grateful to avoid paying out to fire him.
But if the crisis on the pitch deepens then the board will be forced to make a change.
Martinez takes Belgium into the Nations League final four next month. They face France on October 7 and would
