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Memphis Depay
Memphis Depay

Barcelona to delay signing of Memphis Depay

Barcelona had intended to sign the pair in January after failing to secure their signatures in the summer, but following Josep Bartomeu's resignation as president the focus will now be solely on boardroom elections.

According to Marca, decisions made prior to the elections should be 'necessary and essential acts for the maintenance of the club's normal activities' and such transfers do not qualify. 

The president of the FC Barcelona Managing Commission, Carles Tusquets, has stated that the elections will be called during the Christmas holidays, and will be held after the end of the January transfer window.

Manager Ronald Koeman is keen to bolster his defensive options and believes his side are in need of another centre back. 

Koeman views Garcia as a long-term replacement for Gerard Pique at the Nou Camp. 

Barca attempted to sign the 19-year-old in the summer but failed to agree a fee with City. 

The Premier League club turned down Barca's final offer worth around £9million with a further £7.2m in add-ons, as City reportedly wanted a package worth £18m to sell the Spain international. 

Barcelona are hopeful a deal can be made as Garcia is out of contract at the end of the season - meaning City might be willing to lower their demands rather than allowing him to leave for free next summer. 

Depay - who had reached an agreement with Barcelona to join the club as a replacement for Luis Suarez before a lack of cash scuppered the transfer - will have to wait until the summer to link up with his former Holland manager.   

Depay has scored 58 goals in 144 games since signing for Lyon from Manchester United in 2017 and would be a strong addition to Koeman's side. 

But with the club posting an £88m loss recently, whether they can afford him is a different matter. 

Tusquets also added that the new president would need to ratify any transfers.   

'Free players can be signed, but before buying players, others have to be sold,' he said.

'They must have the approval of the coach and the technical secretariat with the option that they can return to their teams if the new president does not want those players.' 

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