Koeman: 'For Depay to arrive, Barcelona must first sell'

Ronald Koeman spoke for the first time on Barcelona’s interest in Memphis Depay by conceding they must sell first before making any move.

What didn’t seem possible at one stage, now seems reality as rumors linking Depay to Barcelona grow stronger by each passing day.

Former Netherlands boss Koeman is keen to link-up with the Lyon winger ahead of his debut campaign in charge at Camp Nou, with personal terms reportedly already agreed on between club and player.

But Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas isn’t prepared to let Depay leave on the cheap, leaving a cash-stricken Barcelona in trouble. The Catalan giants, like countless other clubs, suffered heavy losses from the coronavirus pandemic.

Les Gones, who lost 2-1 to Montpellier on Tuesday, have allegedly slapped a €25m price tag on Depay.

“For Depay to arrive, you must first sell,” Koeman admitted to Fox Sports Netherlands.

It’s not been a disastrous transfer window for Barcelona by any means, though.

While the Lionel Messi saga was far from ideal and left many fans on the edge of their seats, the Blaugrana have welcomed exciting young talents in Trincao, Matheus Fernandes, and Pedri.

Miralem Pjanic, meanwhile, has arrived from Juventus as part of a trade deal involving Arthur Melo heading the opposite way.

But hopes of making further additions with rumored targets Lautaro Martinez, Georginio Wijnaldum, and former player Thiago Alcantara appear unlikely.

Koeman added: “We’re working towards the new season and I think we will go into it with the same group of players that we have now for pre-season.”

The Dutchman is currently preparing for another pre-season friendly this evening against fellow Catalan side Girona, with the match to begin at 19:00 (CET).