Barcelona open to handing free transfer to Memphis Depay?

Barcelona are reportedly open to handing a free transfer to Memphis Depay over the coming weeks.

Despite their well-documented financial issues, club president Joan Laporta has proceeded to make five high-profile additions.

Jules Kounde has recently joined Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski in making the switch to Camp Nou.

However, the Catalan giants are now under pressure to oversee a number of outgoings due to needing to reduce their wage bill and squad numbers.

Depay is known to be on a list of players who have been made available for transfer with the forward having fallen down the pecking order in recent weeks.

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Recent reports have indicated that Barcelona may look to recoup in the region of £17m for a player who has less than 12 months remaining on his contract.

Nevertheless, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, discussions are taking place regarding the possibility of Depay leaving the club as a free agent.

Romano says that the La Liga outfit are speaking with Depay's lawyers to establish whether a mutual parting of the ways is plausible.

As has been consistently claimed in the past, the Netherlands international will only depart Barcelona this summer if it proves to be beneficial for his career.

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Depay will not be short of offers having contributed 12 goals from his 28 appearances in Spain's top flight during 2021-22.

Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur have been heavily linked with an approach as they both consider whether to strengthen their respective forward lines.

Newcastle United are also said to be monitoring the situation for the same reasons, but Depay may prefer to represent a club competing in Europe.

Romano adds that Depay - who can count Manchester United and Lyon among his former teams - is only prepared to consider joining "a top club".