Dutch international star Memphis Depay is set for another move to a top club on the European landscape after La Liga rivals Atlético Madrid are on the verge of prizing the 28-year-old versatile forward away from league leaders Barcelona.
According to reports from football insider Fabrizio Romano (among others), Atléti will acquire the former Olympique Lyonnais, Manchester United, and PSV Eindhoven forward for a fee of around just €3m in what constitutes a steal during the January transfer window.
Atlético Madrid are close to complete the signing of Memphis Depay! Deal at final stages with Barcelona, permanent move for fee close to €3m 🚨🔴⚪️ #FCB #Atléti
Full agreement on personal terms as Memphis only wanted Atlético as new club. Here we go expected soon. pic.twitter.com/2SWRdHD2xn
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 18, 2023
Depay is said to have already agreed to personal terms with Atléti, with the chance to play in the capital weighing in as his preferred option and a medical the final step before being unveiled at the Wanda Metropolitano.
With the temporary absence of João Félix after the 23-year-old Portuguese star left on loan for Chelsea, a permanent move for Depay will certainly call into question whether or not Félix may end up leaving the club on a permanent basis in the summer despite reports suggesting that his departure was only going to be for the duration of his six-month loan at Stamford Bridge.
Moreover, Atléti also saw Brazilain forward Matheus Cunha depart the Spanish capital during the current transfer period when he joined Julen Lopetegui’s hopeful revolution at Wolves, leaving the club needing a ready-made replacement.
In Depay, Simeone will hopefully have a credible avenue to add further goals into the senior setup given the club’s relative goalscoring struggles this season, with Atléti well behind the scoring rate of both Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as Real Sociedad, Athletic Club, and Girona as Colchoneros remains heavily reliant on their preferred defensive schematics.
But the Moordrecht native could not cement his place at Barça despite scoring 12 goals in La Liga last season, with Depay featuring just four times across all competitions this season. A move is, undoubtedly, the best solution for both parties as Barcelona remains desperate to shed wages off the books, and the Dutch forward is keen to get back to being viewed as an undisputed first-choice option.
📰 Table Of Contents
