LIVERPOOL are eyeing an audacious swap deal to land Barcelona star Memphis Depay, reports suggest.
Depay, 28, was heavily linked with a Barcelona exit over the summer.
But with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaving to join Chelsea instead, the Dutchman ended up staying at Barcelona to play second fiddle to Robert Lewandowski.
However, this has not stopped rumours about his future at the Camp Nou.
And the latest reports from Sport indicate there could be movement in the January window between him and Liverpool.
The Reds are said to be plotting a swap deal for Depay with cult hero Roberto Firmino.
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Firmino, 30, joined Liverpool in 2015, scoring 101 goals and registering 77 assists since.
With less than a year left on his current deal though, they are keen to try and move him on.
He has fallen down the pecking order with the arrival of Darwin Nunez and established stars such as Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
Both Depay and Firmino share a similar player profile, and a swap deal in January could benefit all parties – as opposed to both clubs losing their respective players for nothing next summer.
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Of course, Depay’s history as a former Manchester United player could mean his welcome from the crowd is less than warm.
Firmino stepped into the starting XI brilliantly this season against Bournemouth, scoring twice and adding three assists.
He then scored the equaliser one week later against Newcastle at Anfield.
Depay has made the most of his rare starts, scoring in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Elche, albeit after starting on the left wing.
Liverpool have also been eyeing up midfield reinforcements, with Jude Bellingham and Mosies Caicedo earmarked as their first choice transfer targets to rejuvenate their midfield.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
