A transfer that was heavily rumoured ever since the appointment of Ronald Koeman as Barcelona boss is now set to be completed in the winter transfer window at the earliest.
Memphis Depay is the name that has attracted the most attention from the media, linking him to Barcelona to reunite with his former national team coach. After Koeman’s statement on the player, it seems only a matter of time before the reunion is complete.
“That (a move for Depay) is certainly a possibility. I will try, because I would like to have him here,” he stated in an interview with AD, through Spanish publication Marca.
“But I cannot estimate now what the financial situation of the club is in January. We will have to wait to see it.
“I do not have the role to decide this, it depends on the club. For me, it is a matter of waiting. We want Memphis because he is a great player and because he has qualities that, in my opinion, we lack, especially in depth in our attack.”
Considering that coaches are normally reluctant to talk about players from other clubs, it is quite unorthodox behaviour from Koeman. However, his upfront nature regarding the transfer link leaves no room for false speculation.
According to the higher authorities at Lyon, Memphis Depay had agreed personal terms with Barcelona a long time ago. The Blaugrana were unable to sell enough to raise funds for the Dutchman, which is why Memphis is still playing his football at Lyon.
Memphis is currently on the last year of his contract at Lyon, which is set to expire in July of next year. Lyon would be wise to not lose one of their most prized assets for free and to cash in on him in the winter.
A bid worth €20 million should be enough to persuade Lyon to let go of the Dutch forward in the winter. However, things could always take a turn considering the dynamic and unpredictable nature of the modern game.
For now, it seems imminent that we will see Memphis Depay in a Barcelona shirt next year. Whether that happens in January or in July is the question that remains unanswered.
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