Memphis Depay transfer news: Barcelona face stiff competition for Lyon ace

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:55 BST
• 4 min read

Lyon star Memphis Depay continues to be heavily linked with a transfer to Barcelona, yet the Netherlands attacker’s future is by no means clear cut.

With six months remaining before the end of his contract, there are reports of a potential January move from the Camp Nou side.

Moreover, there is increasingly interest from elsewhere former Manchester United player Depay.

Memphis Depay snapshot:

Here is where his future currently stands.

Memphis Depay to Barcelona: The latest

• Memphis Depay has been a target for Barcelona for six months
• Prospects of a January move dim
• Competition to sign him on a pre-contract agreement is increasing

In an ideal world, Barcelona would sign Memphis Depay as soon as possible. In reality, the chances of him trading Lyon for Catalunya in January are slim.

Barca, of course, continue to be dogged by financial problems. These loom over the club in every domain and even threaten to cost them Lionel Messi, who is out of contract in the summer.

While Memphis has long been earmarked as an important signing by head coach Ronald Koeman, they will have to sell before they can even consider buying.

An equally complicating factor, however, is the situation at Lyon.

Rudi Garcia’s side approach their opening game of 2021 leading Ligue 1. There is a realistic prospect of them challenging Paris Saint-Germain for the title. In order to do that, they need Depay. Losing him for a relatively paltry fee of €5 million or so is simply not worth the gamble.

Lyon have been accused of having a lack of ambition in the past by their supporters. It has been nine long years since they last won any silverware. Selling Memphis for the kind of fee they are likely to get this month simply is not worth it as it would cost their fans more goodwill.

Indeed, OL have said they expect him to stay.

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Where does his future lie?

Although Lyon are eager to keep their ace, they have long conceded Memphis is likely to leave at the end of his contract.

There are, however, still many variables that will affect his future destination.

He has admitted in the past that he wants to return to a giant club after getting a taste of the big time at Manchester United, and Barcelona would be high on his shortlist.

Koeman’s presence, of course, is both a push and a pull factor. Depay has worked with the former Everton boss successfully with the Netherlands, while the coach has been a driving force in campaigning for the forward to move to Camp Nou.

The coach’s future, too, is in limbo. With Barcelona struggling in La Liga, the presidential election on 24th January is likely to be important in determining if he stays at the club. Should Koeman go, the prospects of Memphis signing are reduced.

Given the volatile situation in Barcelona presently, it is unlikely that Memphis would commit to the club before the state of play there is more apparent.

Elsewhere, there is reported interest from Serie A giants Juventus, Milan and Inter. All three can offer him more attractive terms that Lyon. Each of these clubs are attractive as fallback option if the dream of Barcelona falls through.

He had been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, too, but the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino suggests this is a move now unlikely to come to anything.