Barcelona Rumors: Lyon Boss Claims Barca Unlikely To Afford Memphis Depay Transfer

Memphis Depay has been all packed up and ready to go, but his move to Spain could be facing a huge stumbling block as Lyon boss Jean-Michel Aulas claims Barcelona is unlikely to afford the transfer fee for the Dutch forward.

In a sudden turn of events, Aulas bared that newly appointed Barca coach Ronald Koeman personally relayed to him that the Spanish club is unlikely to make an offer for Depay as they continue to deal with the tough financial blow due to the pandemic.

"The president of Barca indicated to me on Sunday that Barca was suffering a lot from the COVID crisis and didn't have the possibility to make an offer,” Aulas wrote on Twitter before ending with a hashtag of the 26-year-old’s first name.

According to Goal, Aulas' statement was in response to a report from Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that claimed that Depay was offered about $36 million by Barcelona.

Prior to the revelation of the figures on the table, the Netherlands international had been reported to have already agreed on terms with Barcelona, awaiting the official green light from Lyon.

“Memphis Depay has agreed (on) personal terms with Barcelona after contacts started days ago. But the final agreement is still to be reached between Barça and OL - talks ongoing,” football journalist Fabrizio Romano wrote on a Twitter post on Sept. 8.

Koeman indirectly admitted Aulas’ claim in a separate interview with Fox Sports, saying that Barcelona would have to sell first before acquiring not just Depay, but all other potential reinforcements for the La Liga giants.

Koeman has been open about his desire to bring in Dutch players to Barcelona. Besides Depay, the 57-year-old also aims to land Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.

But with the apparent doubt on the acquisition of his targeted pieces, Koeman said he is working to utilize the weapons he is served with, headed by non-other than Lionel Messi, who decided to stay with the Blaugrana following an exposed transfer drama.

"We are now working towards the new season and I assume that we are going to do it with this group with which we are in the preparation,” Koeman said.