Simon Phillips, a sports Journalist has revealed that Chelsea may still seek a move for Barcelona’s Memphis Depay after the transfer deadline.
Phillips had previously informed GiveMeSport that Chelsea would sign Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria.
Zakaria had a physical in Turin after Chelsea completed a loan agreement with an option to buy with the Serie A club, while Aubameyang had joined the London club in a deal that will see Marcos Alonso travel the other way.
And while Fabrizio Romano has reported that Depay could yet leave Barcelona today, Phillips has claimed that Chelsea could end up signing him after the window has closed – if the La Liga giants were to release him from his contract.
Depay’s deal is due to expire at the end of the season but Romano claimed earlier today that there is a readiness to terminate his contract.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Phillips claimed that although Chelsea are only planning on two more signings today, their pursuit of the Netherlands international isn’t necessarily over.
He said: “Depay is not over, by the way. If Barcelona terminate his contract, then Chelsea can obviously still sign him after today as a free agent if that happens. Chelsea are still monitoring it and still considering it as an option if he does become a free agent. At the moment he’s currently training with Barcelona, so that’s why I don’t expect anything to happen tonight. But he’s still an option for Chelsea if he becomes a free agent – other clubs are interested as well.”