Serie A giants Juventus are reportedly keen on signing Memphis Depay on loan from Barcelona in the January transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Memphis Depay has re-emerged on the radar of Juventus, this time over a possible loan move in the January transfer window. The Dutch international faces an uncertain future at Barcelona.
Memphis Depay joined Barcelona on a free transfer last summer after running down his contract with Lyon. The 27-year-old started strongly at Camp Nou and scored several crucial goals in the first two months of his stint. But his form has waned considerably since Xavi Hernandez was appointed as Ronald Koeman’s replacement.
The Dutch forward’s numbers for this season do not make for good reading, as he has a tally of eight goals and two assists in 23 appearances across all competitions. And after entering the final 18 months of his contract with Barcelona, the Catalan giants are considering cashing in on him. Such a situation has captured the attention of Juventus.
The Serie A giants were hot on Depay’s trail in the summer transfer window before his move to Barcelona. The interest in the 27-year-old has not petered out, with Juventus in the market for a wide-attacker heading into the January transfer window.
The need to bolster the offensive unit has become urgent following Federico Chiesa’s season-ending injury. The Italian international sustained a long-term knee issue last week and will only return to action towards the end of the year. And with Dejan Kulusevski facing an uncertain future at the Allianz Stadium, Juventus will have to enter the market for a wide-attacker.
Depay is thus far a viable target for Juventus, with the Bianconeri plotting a January loan move for the Barcelona forward. The Catalan heavyweights had once attempted to use Depay as a makeweight to sign Alvaro Morata. But Juventus will not sell the Spanish international at any cost, forcing Barcelona to set sights on alternatives like Cedric Bakambu.
The only solution thus seems to be a simple loan move involving Depay and Juventus, with Morata not entering the picture. But the report does not mention whether Barcelona will let Depay leave in the ongoing window or wait until the summer to cash in on the Dutch forward.
