Lyon chief rejects the idea of Memphis Depay leaving for Barcelona
Lyon president has rejected Memphis Depay’s departure to Barcelona.
Olympic Lyon’s Memphis Depay was heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp over the 2020 summer transfer window as he was the main target for new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman. However, the transfer did not go through due to multiple financial reasons that Barcelona were facing. The Netherlands center-forward was reportedly pushing for a move to the La Liga side in the upcoming January transfer window of 2021 but now it looks like the move will not take place as the French club looks to have shut down all claims.
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Jean Michael Aulas, the president of Ligue 1 side Olympic Lyon has reportedly stated that there is no way that their club is going to sell Memphis Depay to the Catalan side in the January transfer window of 2020. Former Everton manager Ronald Koeman had it in his main goal to land the former Manchester United forward but he failed due to lack of funds in the club. However, he was planning to move forward with the move and try and land the forward in January.
"“I was the first to say he would not go to Barcelona. Nobody listened to me during the transfer window because everybody thought he would leave.” Lyon president said.“From the start, I told you, they [Depay, Houssem Aouar and Moussa Dembele} will not leave because in a year when we were unfairly deprived of European football, we absolutely have to make a success of the season. So he will stay.”Source Goal"
According to multiple reports, Olympic Lyon’s sporting director had even reduced the price for Memphis Depay down to 25 million euros for the Blaugrana to sign him in the 2020 summer transfer window. Even then, the La Liga giants failed to capitalize on this massive deal.
As reports now suggest, the Ligue 1 giants have reportedly taken their deal for Depay off the table and it looks like the club has no intention of letting the forward move to Spain over the winter. The Lyon forward is one of Koeman’s top targets especially for replacing club veteran Luis Suarez. However, it looks like the Blaugrana will have to start looking towards other replacements in the forward line. They also should be willing to hold on to former Borussia Dortmund star Ousmane Dembele, as the Frenchman has been heavily linked to Manchester United throughout the year.
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Should Barca find other alternatives to Memphis Depay?