Arsenal transfer target Memphis Depay has admitted he wants to remain at Barcelona for years to come amid speculation he could leave the Camp Nou this summer.
The Gunners are looking to bolster their attacking options ahead of next season and the Dutch forward has been touted as a potential target.
After paying to cancel Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract during the January transfer window, Arsenal are on the lookout for a new star striker to lead the line.
Having missed out on Dusan Vlahovic to Juventus, a number of new targets have emerged including the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Depay.
Eddie Nketiah has done an admirable job of late but with both himself and Alexandre Lacazette set to leave on free transfers this summer, Mikel Arteta will be eager to strengthen as much as possible once the window opens.
The manager has made no secret of his desire to bolster the front-line either.
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“Now is the moment we have to raise the quality,” Arteta admitted back in March.
“We need one who puts the ball in the net, that’s priority number one. Any successful team needs enough goal threat in the squad.“.
Depay has been in and out of the Barcelona side this season, starting in just half of their La Liga fixtures this season but still finding the net 11 times.
He most recently started and scored in the club’s 1-0 win over Mallorca but Xavi has favoured an attacking trio of Aubameyang, Ferran Torres and Ousmane Dembele since his appointment.
It is the sort of situation that could start to gradually push Depay towards the exit door despite only arriving in the summer of 2021.
The end of the current campaign will leave the 28-year-old with just one year remaining on his contract, although he insists he has no interest in leaving for Arsenal or any other side.
“I came here at Barcelona with the desire to play for the team,” Depay said this week as reported by The Mirror.
“And of course I want to feel important here for several years.”