Barcelona Agree To Terms With Suarez’s $35M Replacement, Yet To Make Bid: Report

FC Barcelona reportedly have agreed with terms of Lyon skipper Memphis Depay in the ongoing transfer window.

After Barcelona went without a trophy last season, which was their first such instance since 2008, the club appointed Ronald Koeman intending to rebuild the side for the 2020-21 campaign.

As a part of the transition phase, Koeman wants to bring Depay to Nou Camp as the two struck a great bond during Koeman’s run as the Netherlands manager between 2018 and 2020. It is well known that one of Koeman’s top targets this summer is another Netherlands national, Gini Wijnaldum, who has just a year left in his current deal at Liverpool and has not signed an extension yet.

However, it has been reported that Wijnaldum is keen on staying at Anfield and after his latest meeting with Jurgen Klopp, the 29-year-old midfielder is expecting to receive a new contract any time soon. Klopp wants the Dutch player to stay in the team as well.

Since Koeman has informed Luis Suarez that he is no longer needed at Barcelona, the La Liga side needs to sign a replacement for the Uruguayan this summer. It is believed that Barcelona are seeing Depay as a long-term replacement for Suarez, who is close to signing a deal with Juventus. If the deal goes through, Suarez could become the 14th player to have played alongside both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Barcelona have valued Depay between $23 million and $29 million at the current summer market, while Lyon have labeled their captain at $35 million, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo reported.

Sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, who specializes in the transfer market, has reported that Barcelona have agreed to personal terms with Depay, and are in constant talks with Lyon over the transfer situation, but are yet to make an official bid. The 26-year-old forward has scored 57 goals in 139 competitive matches for Lyon since joining the French club in 2016.

Romano has also revealed that while Barcelona had also approached Arsenal a few weeks ago over Aubameyang’s possible move to Nou Camp, Koeman has been determined that he wants Depay. Moreover, Aubameyang has decided to extend his contract with Arsenal until 2023 and an announcement is expected to happen soon.