We may be entering the second week of June but, as it stands, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Celtic, Lazio and Napoli still have no idea who will be sitting in their dugouts next season.
At least Barcelona can press ahead with their summer plans, however, ending speculation over Ronald Koeman’s future as they gear up for one of the most important transfer windows in the club’s recent history.
“We will continue with the current contract Ronald Koeman has,” president Joan Laporta told Barca’s official website yesterday, confirming the Dutchman will see out the final 12 months of his deal at Camp Nou.
And don’t be surprised, with the former Everton manager keeping his dream job for at least one more year, to see Memphis Depay join Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero in his Barcelona squad before the week is out.
Barcelona boss is a big Depay fan
Koeman was the driving force behind Barca’s interest in a winger who captained his Netherlands side between 2018 and 2020, describing Depay as an “excellent player” in October while hailing his ability to play anywhere across the front line.
The admiration between player and coach is mutual too.
And, with Depay’s Lyon contract expiring on 1 July, a player Koeman once tried and failed to sign for Everton is now all but certain to become Barca’s third free transfer of the summer window.
Tottenham and Inter want Lyon star Depay too
As recently as Sunday, FC Inter News reported Tottenham and Inter Milan are both looking to hijack Barca’s long-running pursuit of the former Manchester United benchwarmer.
At the time, Koeman’s position was up in the air, with Barcelona’s long-running pursuit of Depay hanging by a thread.
Now, with the 58-year-old staying put, expect to see Depay practising his keepie-uppie skills on the Camp Nou turf before long.
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