Depay Barcelona switch awaits club confirmation.
LaLiga giants Barcelona have agreed a transfer for Olympic Lyon talisman Memphis Depay.The Lyon forward Depay is expected to be unveiled as Barcelona player later this week with the Spanish giants close to sealing the deal. Depay has been increasingly linked with Barcelona since Ronald Koeman’s appointment as their manager last month.
According to a Dutch paper De Telegraaf,Barcelona have had an offer of €25m plus €5m in add-ons accepted by Ligue 1 side Lyon.It is believed that Depay could be unveiled this week which will make him Ronald Koesman’s first signing after joining Barcelona as new coach.
It’s understood that the former Dutch coach specifically asked for the signing of Memphis,26, to be recruited after working with him for the national time side.
Depay signing is a direct replacement for Luis Suarez with the Uruguayan looking likely to leave for the Old Ladies Juventus.
There has been a hold in the deal though with reports indicating that he won’t move unless Barcelona pay the final year of his contract at the Camp Nou.Memphis is believed to be very delighted about the opportunity to join compatriot Frankie de Jong and playing for Koeman in LaLiga.
Depay confirms Barcelona transfer rumors
After being asked about his future in France after the Netherlands loss to Italy in UEFA Nations League,Depay told Dutch Station NOS:”Let’s see what happens.
“I will speak with Olympic Lyon.I know there is interest,but I don’t want to say much more,mainly because I haven’t spoken much to my agent.”
Depay joined Ligue 1 outfit in January 2017 after a disappointing spell at English Premier League football powerhouse Manchester United who he joined in the summer transfer window of 2015 for €25m.
Since joining Lyon,Depay has shown much more maturity and has improved from his days at Old Trafford,scoring 57 goals in 140 appearances. Depay made a fantastic start to the new season as he scored a hat-trick for Lyon in their opener against Dijon.