Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has stated that a call on Ernesto Valverde’s future as the team’s head coach will be taken in the summer.

Valverde, who is now into his third season in charge of the club since arriving from Athletico Bilbao, has come under increasing criticism despite his side currently topping the LaLiga charts.

Two UEFA Champions League semi-final defeats in consecutive years – both coming while Barca held a 3-0 first-leg advantage – has seen Valverde’s future come under heavy scrutiny.

The Barcelona manager’s current contract with the club runs until 2021, although both parties have an option to review it at the end of the summer according to Bartomeu.

“Will Valverde continue next season? He has a contract until 2021, but in spring there is an option through which it could be decided that he doesn’t continue,” the Barcelona president stated while speaking to Catalan radio programme El Suplement.

“We have it with all the trainers. But his contract… either he or we will decide. What follows depends on many variables. (Frank) Rijkaard was here five years, (Pep) Guardiola four, Luis Enrique three.”

When asked if the head coach’s tenure could come to an end at the completion of the ongoing season, Bartomeu replied, “It could be.”

“But it is a decision that he or the club must make as things go on.”

While Barcelona have had some unflattering results over the course of the season, they were in fine flow against Real Mallorca on Saturday in a crushing 5-2 win. The victory has seen the Blaugrana reclaim top spot in the LaLiga from arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Valverde’s men will take on Inter Milan on Wednesday in their final Champions League group-stage clash. They have already sealed their qualification for the knock-outs as winners of Group F which also includes Borussia Dortmund.