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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport

Memphis Depay confirms Barcelona transfer interest as Ronald Koeman looks for Lautaro Martinez alternative

Memphis Depay has confirmed Barcelona are interested in taking him to Camp Nou and says he will speak to Lyon over a possible transfer.

The ex-Manchester United forward is admired by Barca coach Ronald Koeman, his former Netherlands boss, and has emerged as an alternative to Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.

Barca are in the market for an attacker as a replacement for Luis Suarez and after the Netherlands' 1-0 loss to Italy in the Uefa Nations League on Monday night, Depay told Dutch station NOS: "Let's see what happens.

"Tomorrow I will speak with Olympique Lyon. I know there is interest, but I don't want to say much more, mainly because I haven't spoken much to my agent."

Depay, who is 26, is out of contract next summer and could be signed for around €30million if he pushes to leave this year.

But Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas wrote on Twitter: "Memphis could have left in August, but now he should stay with us in 2020/21.

"Contrary to what I have read, there have been no exchanges with Barca, I do not think that it is in Lyon’s interest to allow their captain to leave after this truncated season by the LFP (Professional Football League).”

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