Memphis Depay (13-2-1994) will be a Barça player this week. This was announced this Tuesday by the prestigious Dutch De Telegraaf, who assures that the Barça club will pay Olympique de Lyon 25 million and five in variables for the transfer. The Dutch striker also anticipates that the former Manchester United striker, a key player in Koeman's Dutch team, could land in Barcelona and sign in the coming days. Sources of the Barcelona club admit that the forward is close but that before closing the signing they must set some exits.
Depay (who prefers to be called Memphis because his father who gave him his first surname abandoned him in childhood) had one more year of contract with Olympique de Lyon, club with which Barcelona maintains a good relationship historically. That allows the transfer price to be more accessible, for example, than Lautaro Martínez's.
Barcelona sources admitted this Monday that the arrival of the Argentine was “very difficult.” After holding a meeting with Inter management at the offices of the Neroazzurro club, the representative, Beto Yaqué, was blunt: “Lautaro stays at Inter.” In Italy, however, they still leave their exit open and put it at an arc between 80 and 90 million euros, an amount inaccessible for Barça.
The price of Depay, however, does enter the Barça budget. Barça is sure that they will get 25 million with smaller sales such as those of Rafinha, Todibo or even Braithwaite, who weeks ago was very close to West Ham. If Braithwaite arrived for 18 million euros, the signing of Depay for 25 is not considered expensive in any case.
Depay will complete the puzzle of Ronald Koeman, who has in mind that his compatriot plays as a forward and moves throughout the front of the attack. Barça's starting line of strikers at 4-2-3-1 could be made up byr Messi, Griezmann and Ansu on the midfield line and Depay up front. Coutinho, Trincao and Dembélé would be luxury substitutes.