Ernesto Valverde will be in the market for a job in the Premier League next summer after being sacked by Barcelona, and as a two-time winner of La Liga who speaks fluent English he is unlikely to be short of offers.

The 55-year-old became only the second coach in the history of La Liga to be sacked while top of the table on Monday. He won 97 of his 145 games in charge losing just 16. He is unlikely to take a job between now and the end of the season but his favoured destination in June is likely to be England.

Sportsmail understands Valverde was considered by several English clubs before he moved to Barcelona.

Ernesto Valverde was axed by Barcelona this week and wants his next job to be in England

Michael Emenalo even wanted him at Chelsea in 2016, advising Roman Abramovich that there were few better football managers in Europe. Chelsea's owner wanted a bigger name and so he was overlooked for Antonio Conte.

Valverde was in tears during the goodbye on Tuesday as players who had taken to social media to wish him well said final goodbyes.

Gerard Pique had earlier tweeted: 'It was an honour to work for you and I hope everything goes well for you. It's always a pleasure to work with people like you in life. An embrace, boss.'

And Lionel Messi added: 'I'm sure you will do well wherever you go because you are a great professional and a great person.'

The 55-year-old was the second coach in the history of LaLiga to be sacked while top

Michael Emenalo wanted him at Chelsea but Roman Abramovich was after a bigger name

Few departing Barcelona coaches leave to such acclaim and the responses add to a sense in Spain that Valverde's reputation has not been dented by his two and a half years at the Camp Nou.

Valverde won three leagues in Greece and took Espanyol to a UEFA Cup final before taking the biggest job of his career at Athletic Bilbao. When he coached them to a Spanish Super Cup success over Barcelona in 2015 it helped confirm him as a potential Barca manager.

Valverde had expected the sack this week after the noise around the club that he could be replaced grew to a crescendo following Barcelona's exit from the Spanish Super Cup.

Barcelona had dominated the game against Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia and were 2-1 up but were denied several possible goals because of VAR decisions and then conceded twice late on.

Despite failures on the European stage, Valverde would not be short of Premier League offers

It is understood that the coach thought he would be dismissed at the end of last season following defeat by Liverpool in the Champions League.

There were many voices in the Barca boardroom in favour of making a change at the time and it was president Josep Bartomeu who insisted he stay.

The defeat by Liverpool was never forgotten and remains his undoing. Barcelona were 3-0 up in the first leg when Ousmane Dembele missed a last minute chance to make it 4-0.

Liverpool's comeback in the second leg denied Barcelona a shot at the treble which the club may well have gone on to win with Tottenham waiting in the final in Madrid.

As it was Barcelona's season fell apart and they were then beaten by Valencia in the Copa del Rey final.