Barcelona have reportedly scheduled talks with Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang amidst speculations over their futures at Camp Nou.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona have scheduled a new round of talks with attacking duo Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who are linked with exits from Camp Nou, with the former on the radars of Juventus and the latter being pursued by Chelsea.
Barcelona have had a stellar summer transfer window, making several high-profile signings none more than that of Robert Lewandowski. However, they are going through a bit of a difficult period at the moment as they are struggling to register any of their new signings with their La Liga opener against Rayo Vallecano only a couple of days away.
Hence, Barcelona are negotiating salary cuts and deferrals with some of their players while also ramping up efforts to get rid of the players who are no longer in the manager’s plans. Memphis Depay is one such player who does not have a major role to play under Xavi after the arrivals of Lewandowski and Raphinha.
The Netherlands international has been told to find a new club just a year after his arrival, with the forward already in talks with Juventus over a potential move. However, Depay wants to leave Barcelona as a free agent as he had joined them on a Bosman deal and agreed to a lower salary than the sum he would have received at other clubs.
Barcelona have scheduled new round of talks on Thursday for both Pierre Aubameyang and Memphis Depay deals. ?? #FCB
Chelsea are discussing on Auba side waiting for bid; Depay in talks for contract termination and Juve pushing for 2 year deal.
Barça want to keep one of them. pic.twitter.com/CybBtpmbRP
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2022
Barcelona, for their part, are demanding a €20 million fee to sanction Depay’s transfer. And the Dutchman’s lawyers are thus locked in negotiations with the Catalans to secure his exit as a free agent, with Juventus waiting to sign him on a two-year contract.
At the same time, though, Aubameyang’s future has also been called into question as Chelsea are pushing to sign the 33-year-old striker from Barcelona just seven months after he made the move to Camp Nou from Arsenal. The Gabonese striker has enjoyed a solid start to life in Catalonia and finished the 2021/22 campaign with 13 goals for the Blaugrana.
However, following Lewandowski’s arrival, he will no longer be the first-choice striker at Barcelona. Chelsea are hoping to leverage that and sign him as Thomas Tuchel is desperate to sign a new centre-forward. While the La Liga giants are likely to be reluctant to let go of the 33-year-old, given their financial situation, a good offer and an opportunity to get rid of his wages could change their stance.
Talks will be held with Aubameyang and his camp on Thursday to get clarity on his stance regarding his future at Barcelona. If the striker wishes to leave in search of more playing minutes, the Catalan giants will block Depay’s exit as they want to part ways with only one among the two forwards.
A clearer picture of the situation surrounding the futures of both Depay and Aubameyang should emerge once their meetings with Barcelona officials take place later today.