Memphis Depay has been linked with a move away from Barcelona, with Newcastle United, Arsenal and Manchester United keen on securing his services.
According to a report from Fichajes, Newcastle United will battle it out with Premier League rivals Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham for the signature of Barcelona forward Memphis Depay.
Barcelona are prepared to cash in on the player during the January transfer window. And they are likely to demand a fee of around €20 million for his services. Depay was a useful option for the Catalan outfit last season, and he managed 13 goals and pick up two assists in all competitions.
However, Depay is no longer a key player for Xavi Hernandez and needs to leave Barcelona to play more often. It will be interesting to see whether the Dutchman can secure a return to the Premier League in the coming months now. Depay has played in the Premier League before with Manchester United. But he had a torrid spell at Old Trafford, and he will be desperate to prove himself this time around.
A move to Newcastle could be an interesting option for the player. The Magpies are in need of a quality attacker who can play in the wide areas as well as centrally. Depay certainly fits the profile, and the Barcelona attacker could be a key player for Eddie Howe.
Since the takeover, Newcastle have shown tremendous ambition in the transfer market. And signing Depay would be another statement of intent from them. The Magpies already have quality attackers like Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Alexander Isak.
Depay could complete Newcastle’s attacking unit if they fend off competition from his other suitors, like Manchester United and Arsenal, and secure his services. The reported asking price seems quite reasonable for a player of his ability, and Newcastle certainly have the resources to afford the Barcelona attacker.
That said, clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham have exciting and ambitious projects as well. They are also a lot closer to challenging for trophies as compared to Newcastle. It will be interesting to see if the Barcelona forward is tempted to join one of the established clubs instead of Newcastle.
