NEWLY appointed Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman is on the trail of Memphis Depay as his first signing.

Expectations are that the Catalans will be active in the transfer window to strengthen its squad for the new season.

However, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed that only the services of his captain, Lionel Messi, Marc Andre Ter Stegen, Clement Lenglet, Nelson Semedo, Frenkie De Jong, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele will be retained.

This means that the majority of Barca’s players who are long in the tooth can be posted.

It’s buzzing properly that Koeman wants to lure his compatriot and captain from Lyon, Depay, to the Camp Nou as the club’s first signing.

The 26-year-old Depay has – after a disappointing season with Manchester United – made a name for himself again at Lyon in France’s Lique1. Here he scored 43 goals in 102 games.

It is understood that Koeman sees the turbulent Depay as the perfect fit on attack with players like Luis Suarez whose career with Barca is still uncertain.