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Barcelona are ready to abandon their pursuit of Liverpool target Ruben Amorim and appoint club legend Rafa Marquez as their next manager.

Marquez, 45, has been in charge of Barca's B team for the past two seasons, having won two Champions League titles and four La Ligas as a player.

With current boss Xavi leaving his post at the end of this season, the former Mexico defender has been named 'The Chosen One' by Barcelona chiefs and has already expressed a willingness to take the job.

That leaves Liverpool with less competition for Amorim, who's on course to guide Sporting Lisbon to their second league title win in just four full seasons under his stewardship.

The 39-year-old Portuguese recently denied reaching a verbal agreement to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, although his rebuttal hasn't put a lid on speculation that he'll be leaving Lisbon this summer to join one of Europe's elite clubs.

It was recently reported that Barca had ramped up their pursuit of Amorim, identifying the ex-Benfica midfielder as the ideal successor to Xavi.

The Barca hierarchy had hoped to convince Xavi to make a U-turn on his decision but after Tuesday's 4-1 defeat in the second leg he once again denied that possibility.

After PSG boss Luis Enrique declared during his post-match press conference: "Xavi is the ideal manager for Barca.

Should Liverpool appoint Ruben Amorim.

Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim is being heavily tipped for the Liverpool job.