Arsenal have made an approach for Memphis Depay, with the Barcelona forward tipped to leave the club at the end of the campaign after losing his place in the first team.
Memphis Depay, 28, was one of the Blaugrana’s biggest signings last summer, brought in on a free transfer from Lyon to soften the blow of losing Lionel Messi. But following the club’s acquisitions of Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore in the January transfer window, the Dutchman has seen himself fall down the pecking order under new manager Xavi Hernandez.
The forward was unlucky to get injured during the time of managerial change at Barcelona. Regardless of his struggles and lack of game time since returning from injury, though, Depay remains the Catalan giants’ top scorer this season with 10 goals.
Having failed to feature prominently in the last couple of months, the 28-year-old now wants to leave Camp Nou after just one season to increase his chances of flying with the Netherlands squad to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Arsenal have made an initial enquiry for Depay, but could face competition from Newcastle United and Everton. Juventus are also keeping tabs on his situation at Barcelona, while a return to Lyon is also on the cards.
Arsenal set to splash big on a striker
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is expected to be in the market for a centre-forward in the summer transfer window. The north Londoners let Aubameyang leave for Barcelona in January after the Gabonese international fell out with Arteta behind the scenes.
Alexandre Lacazette has led the attack since Aubameyang’s departure, but the French striker has netted only six goals in 30 appearances this season. In addition, Lacazette is out of contract at the end of the season along with Eddie Nketiah, accentuating Arsenal’s need for a premium goalscorer before the 2022/23 campaign commences.
Should the Gunners go for Memphis Depay?
Barcelona’s Memphis Depay has emerged as a potential option for Arsenal. Depay failed to live up to the high expectations at Manchester United but managed to revive his career with Lyon, where he netted 76 goals in 178 appearances in four-and-a-half seasons.
A move to Barcelona may have not exactly worked out for the Netherlands international, but he is currently in his prime at 28 and would be more than keen on proving his detractors wrong in the Premier League. A move to Arsenal, thus, would make sense for Depay, who has transformed himself into a centre-forward from a flashy winger over the last few years.
The Dutchman is the kind of player who would fit in well in Mikel Arteta’s system at the Emirates Stadium. Quick, industrious and adept at linking up play in the final third, the ex-Man United man seems a smart option for the Gunners to add to their roster ahead of the next campaign.
With Memphis’ contract expiring in 2023, Barcelona could cash in on the Netherlands star this summer with Arsenal one of his possible destinations.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
