Report: Liverpool present offer to sign £40.5m-rated attacker; he's got 24 G/A this season

Spanish publication Marca reports that Liverpool and Juventus have made offers to Memphis Depay but state he prefers a move to Barcelona.

Valued at £40.5million by Transfermarkt, the Dutchman has scored 15 goals and assisted 9 this season. Depay flopped at Manchester United but since joining Lyon in 2017, he has come on in leaps and bounds.

The Lyon forward is not just a sharpshooter, he is also brilliant at linking play together and is an underrated playmaker. His close dribbling and vision would be a dream to watch as part of a front three with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Lyon have accepted that they are likely to lose Depay in the summer. President Jean-Michel Aulas spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, saying: "I haven't got a bad word to say about [Depay]. I will respect his decision.

"If he goes to a bigger club than Lyon, he'll be right. If he stays, it will mean we've been a great adventure for him and we have won something."

Why a move to Liverpool makes sense for Depay

The Reds would be the ideal next step in his career after playing for Lyon for four years but as he enters his prime, Depay should be playing for a club as big as Liverpool. Of course, he seems to be set on a move to Barcelona but with nothing set in stone, it seems the offer from Jurgen Klopp and co. is still on the table.

If Liverpool's interest is genuine, Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum will likely be in Depay's ear explaining why he should move to Anfield. The fans' support, the family-like nature of the club and the football on display are just a few reasons why a move to Merseyside makes sense for him.

Even if he's not being tapped up the Dutch Reds, this season withstanding, Liverpool's recent success should be compelling enough for Depay.

The Merseysiders winning the Champions League and the Premier League in back to back seasons will surely be something he has taken notice of as well.