Harry Diamond
Ronald Koeman apparently ‘does not want’ the club to sign Sergio Aguero this summer and would rather Barcelona focused their attentions on securing a deal for Memphis Depay.
Aguero has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona after announcing he will leave Manchester City at the end of the current campaign, the club’s all-time record goalscorer set to leave after a decade of success at the Etihad.
The 32-year-old has won four Premier League titles and scored a record 257 goals in all competitions for the club, with the Argentina international the highest-scoring overseas player in the history of English football.
Aguero’s availability on a free transfer is set to alert several major European clubs and Barcelona have been discussed as a potential destination, raising the prospect of the forward linking up with long-term friend and international teammate, Lionel Messi, at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s concerning financial situation further adds to the appeal of signing an established goalscorer on a free transfer this summer, though Spanish publication SPORT is reporting that Koeman is not interested in a deal for Aguero.
Koeman instead wants the Catalans to focus their attentions on signing former Manchester United man, Memphis Depay from Lyon, the Netherlands international also on a free transfer as he approaches the end of his contract in France.
Koeman previously worked alongside the 27-year-old with the Dutch national side and Depay’s versatility and past performances under his compatriot have made him a priority signing for the Spanish giants.
Despite their financial struggles, deals for either player are said to be independent of their desire to sign Erling Haaland, Barcelona having joined the long list of suitors for the Borussia Dortmund forward ahead of the summer transfer window.
Barcelona also continue to be linked with a move for Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, another player who looks set to be available on a free transfer at the end of the 2020/21 season.
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