Liverpool have confirmed a pre-season friendly with Lyon next month indicating the much rumored transfer of Memphis Depay could be imminent.
Yes, it is transfer season, so every scrap of information will send Liverpool fans into a frenzy but there really could be something in this one: Liverpool have confirmed they will play Lyon in a pre-season friendly indicating a move for Memphis Depay is imminent.
It is a common practice within transfer negotiations to include a future friendly as part of a deal – it helps the smaller club raise profile, funds and gives them top-level preparation for their season.
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The sudden announcement of the friendly with Lyon in Geneva, Switzerland on July 31st makes many think this is part of a deal which is soon to be announced. If the friendly is confirmed that means a transfer deal is likely done also.
The big question is which Lyon player are Liverpool pursuing. Many fans have presumed it is a resurrection of the Nabil Fekir move which collapsed embarrassingly at the last moment in the summer of 2018.
However there has been a consistent message from the club and journalists close to the club that they would not return for the World Cup winner and that deal was dead.
Instead the leading candidate is Memphis Depay. The Dutchman and Gini Wijnaldum have not been subtle on social media about how they would like to play together at club level again.
Depay has the shortest odds of any player to join Liverpool this summer at 10/11 on. Despite rumors today that Liverpool are looking to hijack a move for Lille forward Nicolas Pepe it looks like Depay is the more likely target.
There is the outside possibility it could actually be Houssem Aouar as the one the Reds are pursuing. The 20-year-old playmaker is a rising star in Ligue 1. However the club are looking for more of a sheer forward player to add to the roster and Memphis Depay fits that bill better than Aouar or Fekir.