Athletic Bilbao presidential candidate Ricardo Barkala has intimated Mauricio Pochettino is his choice of coach should he win the election.

Barkala is regarded as favourite for the presidential poll and admits his admiration for Pochettino as he departs PSG.

He said of the former Espanyol, Southampton and Tottenham coach: “Yes, he is a good coach. I'm not saying it, he's a great professional and has worked a lot in grassroots football. The time for PSG has been atypical in his career.

"We will possibly tell the coach next week. We have decided, but he does have to be a coach of international prestige. That he knows how to work with grassroots football and that he loves Athletic.

"That he assumes our philosophy and that he knows how to work with Lezama. I would like Athletic to defend well and attack well as a block, as a team. And let's see if we can put it in practice."