Thierry Henry could be Barça's secret option if coach Valverde leaves

Ernesto Valverde's future is a taboo subject at Barcelona. No one dares to predict how long he has left in the job because it depends so much on his desire to continue and the team's results. 

Valverde and the club have an option to extend his current deal by an additional year, until June 2021. At the end of April, both parties must reach a common ground. Until then, the club have no intention of contacting possible replacements. However, it's one thing not to reach out and another thing to weigh up possible options. 

There are few options on the market at the moment. It can't be any coach. It must be someone who knows the way the team has to play. You can count the candidates on one hand: Koeman, Jordi Cruyff, Marcelo Gallardo, Ten Hag and Robert Moreno… There are very few other names, with returns for Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique seemingly ruled out. 

However, another name has appeared among the board members. Thierry Henry, the former Barça player, is well-liked by many at the club and is beginning to learn the ropes on the bench. 

Henry has just taken over MLS side the Montreal Impact. He has experience as Roberto Martinez's No.2 at Belgium (finishing third in the World Cup) and with Monaco, where he was sacked after 19 games. 

Obviously he's not yet a top coach but Barça have always taken a different route. Guardiola came from the B team, Luis Enrique from Celta Vigo. 

The Frenchman has an excellent relationship with sporting director Eric Abidal and also gets on well with players like Messi, Busquets and Pique. He's well acquainted with the French players in the dressing room these days. 

Barça value the work he's done as an ambassador and the way he would set the team up. President Josep Maria Bartomeu has a good relationship with him, too. 

Henry's name is on the table and his work in the United States is going to be followed very closely.