Barcelona are enduring quite a summer period.The club's pre-season break started earlier than they had planned after they were emphatically dumped out of the Champions League with an 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich last month.As well as ending their European hopes for the season, it seemed to kickstart a period of real transition.Quique Setien was sacked as head coach of the club, while Eric Abidal was removed from his position of Sporting Director as the Spanish giants sought a huge overhaul.Ronald Koeman was brought in to replace Setien and lead the team during a period of real turmoil for the first team squad.Ivan Rakitic completed a move to Sevilla, while Luis Suarez has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus.There's also been the small matter of Lionel Messi's uncertain future at the Nou Camp.While the maestro reluctantly agreed to stay with Barcelona for the duration of the season, it hasn't stopped the club looking to the future with new additions.
Several players have been linked, one of whom is Memphis Depay.The Lyon star enjoyed an excellent season last term as he scored 15 goals in a stellar season in both domestic and European competition.Valued at £39.6million by Transfermarkt, Depay would not be a cheap deal to complete.Barcelona's interest is said to be progressing,with reputable reporter Fabrizio Romano suggesting that personal terms have already been agreed.
Romano tweeted: "Barcelona are working to get Memphis Depay - personal terms agreed but no official bid to OL yet.
"Barça also started contacts to sign Aubameyang weeks ago, but Koeman wants Depay and Auba decided to extend his contract with Arsenal [agreed until 2023 and official soon]."
GIVEMESPORT'S Phil Spencer says...
This may well be the first step in a new era for Barcelona.
The Catalan giants appear to be at the end of a wonderful cycle in which they have dominated world football for much of the last 10-15 years.
With players such as Xavi and Andres Iniesta moving on, it was always going to be difficult to keep up such dominance.
It will be even harder with Lionel Messi's future up in the air.
While he may well stick around for this season, it seems that he fancies a challenge away from the Nou Camp and that could spell the end of his stay.
Memphis Depay is not in the same league as Messi - of course he's not, but who is?
That said he is more than capable of slotting in to life at the Nou Camp and establishing himself as a potential star in the club's next chapter.