FC Barcelona is confident it will announce the signing of Memphis Depay within the next week now that Ronald Koeman is remaining as manager.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Koeman remaining on the sideline next season is crucial in the forward’s decision to join the club. The club announced on Thursday that Koeman will stay for the 2021-22 season following a “period of reflection” on the past season by Barça President Joan Laporta.
Depay, who has been linked to the club since Koeman took over last August, previously played under Koeman for the Dutch national team from 2018 to 2020. His transfer to Barça would be a reunion between the two Dutchman.
The 27-year-old will join the Blaugrana on a free transfer from Lyon as his contract is set to expire this month. A verbal agreement between the winger and club is reported, and a three-year contract with an option to extend is in the works.
Due to the club’s financial situation, Depay will not earn as much from his contract as other players. He will, however, earn bonuses for winning titles and reaching individual goals. It was reported last month that he is willing to take a pay cut in order to make the transfer.
The forward scored 22 goals and recorded 10 assists in 39 matched for Lyon last season. He is likely to join Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero, who joined on a free transfer from Manchester City last week, in Barça’s attack next season.
