Barcelona are supposedly considering ending their pursuit of Lyon attacker Memphis Depay.
The 26-year-old was tipped to make the switch to Camp Nou in the summer, but having failed to offload Ousmane Dembele on transfer deadline day, a move collapsed and Depay remained at Lyon.
The Netherlands international is yet to put pen to paper on an extension, though, and Depay is about to enter the final six months of his contract at the Groupama Stadium.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barca are more focused on signing a central defender given Gerard Pique's lengthy layoff, and Ronald Koeman now has more faith in Martin Braithwaite after the former Middlesbrough man found his shooting boots.
The report claims that Lyon could only recoup a €5m (4.5m) fee for Depay with his deal close to expiry, but Les Gones know that he is vital to their Ligue 1 title charge and want to keep hold of him for the remainder of the campaign - even if that means losing him for nothing in the summer.
Depay has banked eight goals and four assists for Lyon in the French top flight this term, with Rudi Garcia's men currently leading the way in Ligue 1 during the Christmas break.
Ben Knapton
