West Ham have made a move to sign Memphis Depay from Barcelona, according to Football Insider.
The Netherlands international is free to leave the Nou Camp this summer, potentially for nothing, as the Spanish giants look to free up their wage bill in order to register their newest summer recruits.
Ongoing financial issues at the club means they’re currently unable to register the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde, among others.
It means Depay may be allowed to leave Barcelona for nothing, and the Hammers have made their move by reportedly offering the 28-year-old a ‘big-money contract’ which would make him ‘their best-paid player.’
Spanish outlet Sport (via TeamTalk) claim Chelsea, Tottenham and Everton are currently battling it out for Depay’s signature but the Hammers have now supposedly thrown their hat in the ring with a tempting offer for the former Manchester United winger.
David Moyes is eager to bolster his attacking options further following the summer arrivals of Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo and Burnley’s Maxwell Cornet.
While he continues to scour the market for another centre-back, a left-back and another midfielder, it appears another forward is also high on his wishlist as the September 1 transfer window deadline edges ever closer.
Depay joined Barcelona from Lyon on a free transfer last summer and went on to score 13 goals in 36 appearances for the Catalan giants, but their current financial issues have led Xavi to reconsider which players he wants to keep at the club long term, with Depay seemingly one who is free to leave.
It’s not yet known how big this contract offer actually is, but if he is to be the club’s highest-paid player then he will be earning more than Kurt Zouma’s reported £125k-a-week wages.
Depay has scored 158 goals in 411 career appearances for PSV, Manchester United, Lyon and Barcelona combined.
