Barcelona have reportedly decided to shelve their plans of signing Olympique Lyon’s Dutch forward Memphis Depay in the January transfer window.
According to a report from Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, La Liga heavyweights Barcelona may not push ahead with their plans to sign Memphis Depay from Olympique Lyon in the winter transfer window.
The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Barcelona ever since Ronald Koeman was appointed the Catalans’ manager in the summer. A transfer was believed to be close back in October, but the club’s financial problems put paid to the manager’s hopes of landing the Netherlands international.
However, given the dearth of options in the centre-forward role at Camp Nou, Depay has continued to be linked with a transfer to Catalonia ahead of the January transfer window. Furthermore, with the former Manchester United man in the final year of his contract, Olympique Lyon are believed to be willing to sell him for as little as €5 million.
Barcelona, though, are now considering calling off their pursuit of the 26-year-old Dutchman in the January window. The Catalans are in a state of transition off the field, with the presidential elections set to take place next month. Any decisions over their transfer business are likely to be taken after the winner is announced on January 24, as per the report.
This, coupled with the fact that Paris Saint-Germain are also pressing to sign Depay from Lyon, has made the deal to sign him a bit complex for the Blaugrana. In addition, the form shown by current first-choice striker Martin Braithwaite has played a part in the La Liga heavyweights’ decision to cancel their plans for Depay.
Indeed, Braithwaite has stepped up in recent weeks and has grown into an important player, managing to win Koeman’s trust. It is claimed that Barcelona were initially hoping to cash in on him to fund a move for Depay.
However, with the Danish forward gaining the manager’s confidence and wanting to stay and fight at the club, Barcelona are set to back him to come good instead of investing in a new forward. Alternatively, the Catalans are reportedly set to prioritise a move for a new central defender, with Eric Garcia being their top target.
So, it seems like Depay’s dream move to Barcelona might once again fall through. However, it will be interesting to see if he ends up signing for PSG or sees out his contract at Lyon in the hopes of securing a free transfer to Camp Nou in the summer.
