Chelsea held a ‘genuine’ interest in Memphis Depay and ‘explored’ the possibility of tempting the Barcelona star to Stamford Bridge on deadline day, according to transfer insider Dean Jones. The Blues sealed the acquisitions of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria in the final moments of the summer window, but they failed to welcome Depay to west London.
There has been uncertainty over Depay’s long-term future as he has entered the final 12 months of his £230,000-per-week Barcelona contract.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claimed the La Liga giants had agreed to terminate the striker’s deal as long as he was able to find another club.
It appeared that a move to the Premier League could be on the cards as respected Spanish journalist Gerard Romero revealed Chelsea emerged as a possible destination for Depay just hours before last Thursday’s deadline.