Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta remains confident coach Pep Guardiola will continue his successful spell at the helm.
However, he has confirmed the club have drawn up contingency plans should Guardiola decide to leave the Nou Camp.
Zubizarreta is optimistic it will not come to that despite the Catalans, who visit Osasuna on Saturday, trailing arch-rivals Real Madrid by seven points in the La Liga title race.
He told Marca on Saturday:
“The conditions for Pep to renew are favourable.” He claimed, however, that they did have a plan B, adding: “I have a list of potential replacements.”
The Barca players have made it clear they are desperate for Guardiola to stay, with central defender Gerard Pique admitting:
“Pep came here when the club was not at its best, and from that first year the team has not stopped growing. We have won many titles with players that have come through the ranks and have not cost money. The key is the coach.”
