Al Ahli have given former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez 48 hours to respond to their formal offer to become the Saudi club’s new head coach.
The negotiations have entered a decisive stage as German manager Matthias Jaissle prepares to leave Al Ahli for a new challenge in the Premier League with Newcastle United.
Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiya reports that Xavi has moved to the front of Al Ahli’s list of candidates to replace Jaissle, with the club now waiting for the Spanish coach to make a final decision on its proposal.
Al Ahli officials are also continuing discussions with a number of other managers in case Xavi turns down the offer. The club’s management is understood to favour appointing a coach with previous experience in the Saudi league or in one of the competitions elsewhere in the region.
At the same time, Al Riyadiya says Al Ahli’s company is waiting for Jaissle to submit his written resignation in the coming hours. That document would allow the club to complete the formal procedures for ending his time in Saudi Arabia.
British broadcaster Sky Sports reports that Newcastle United will pay approximately 11m euros to secure the release of Jaissle from Al Ahli.
The German is expected to sign a four-year contract with Newcastle after being chosen to replace Englishman Eddie Howe as manager.
Three names in contention
Al Riyadiya previously reported that Al Ahli’s shortlist had been reduced to three candidates: Xavi Hernandez, Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo and his compatriot Vitor Pereira.
Xavi has since taken the lead in the race during the past few hours, with Al Ahli now setting a firm deadline for his response.
The 45-year-old began his coaching career with Qatari club Al Sadd in 2019. During his time there, he won seven domestic trophies before returning to Barcelona as head coach in November 2021.
At Barcelona, Xavi guided the Catalan side to the Spanish league title and the Spanish Super Cup in the 2022-23 season. Those achievements helped strengthen his reputation as one of the leading young managers in European football.
His possible appointment would mark a new stage in a managerial career that began after an illustrious playing spell with Barcelona and Spain, although the Saudi club’s immediate priority is to resolve the uncertainty surrounding its next head coach.
For now, Al Ahli are continuing their preparations on two tracks: waiting for Jaissle’s written resignation and seeking a final answer from Xavi before the 48-hour deadline expires.
