Juventus are looking to hi-jack FC Barcelona’s move to sign Olympique Lyon captain Memphis Depay on free transfer this summer.
According to a report from Calciomercato, Juventus are making some real strides in their pursuit of Memphis Depay. The Olympique Lyon forward has become a prime target for the Italian giants, particularly due to his expiring contract that could make him a free transfer this summer.
Barcelona are said to be leading the chase to sign Depay, despite his move to Catalonia being blocked by corporates in light of the financial crisis. The Dutchman’s association with the Spanish club makes sense as well, as the forward could reunite with the former Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman.
However, Juventus are now stepping up their efforts, becoming more and more relevant in this transfer saga. The Turin based outfit is also prepared to offer Depay a more lucrative financial offer as well as the opportunity to become a key part of the club’s future, as well as the added incentive of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and perhaps even play a bigger role after he retires.
Barcelona, in contrast, are still licking their wounds following 4-1 defeat to PSG in the Champions League that has once again put Lionel Messi’s future in grave danger. On the flip side, though, the Argentine’s potential departure could pave the way for him to play a prominent or even a starring role in the club’s transitional phase as Koeman looks to usher in a new era at Catalonia.
The Dutchman has been in inspired form this season, playing a part in 19 goals in just 25 league matches. His contributions in the final third have been critical in helping Olympique Lyon mount a challenge for the league title this term.
During his time with Les Gones, the former Manchester United man has also worked on his leadership qualities, showcasing an impressive responsibility and the ability to lead his side that could come in handy at FC Barcelona, especially if Messi does leave Camp Nou in the summer.
As for Juventus, the addition of Depay could further stack an offensive department that already has Federico Chiesa, Federico Bernardeschi, Paulo Dybala and Dejan Kulusevski. In addition, the Bianconeri are set to have Douglas Costa back from his loan spell at Bayern Munich in the summer.
While the Dutchman is almost certain to get the nod ahead of the likes of Bernardeschi, while Costa and Aaron Ramsey are likely to leave the club, Barcelona does indeed appear to be the better option. A lot could depend on how Andrea Pirlo goes about his business during the summer transfer window, especially when it comes to offloading fringe players.
