West Ham United are reportedly planning an audacious attempt to sign Barcelona forward Memphis Depay, according to reports coming out of Spain.

What's the word?

As per reports in Iberia (via Sports Witness), the Hammers are said to have made contact with the La Liga giants regarding a potential deal, with the Nou Camp outfit seemingly open to a sale this summer.

The report suggests that the Catalan side would see it as a 'great deal' were they able to cash in on the Dutchman in the upcoming window, with just a year remaining on the deal he signed to make the move from Lyon on a free transfer last summer.

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Xavi and co would likely be set to make a tidy profit on the 28-year-old, with previous reports claiming that they could demand as much as £42m to move him on at the end of the season.

Huge coup

There's no doubting that it has been a frustrating stint at times for the former Manchester United man in his current surroundings, although that's not to take away from the excitement at his potential move to the London Stadium.

Despite at times coming in for criticism during his time with La Blaugrana, the £40.5m-rated gem still has an impressive record this season, having scored 12 goals and registered two assists in just 20 league starts, while he is also the club's joint-top scorer in all competitions alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

That follows an outstanding stint in France in which he provided 76 goals and 55 assists in 178 games in all competitions,  having recovered from his disappointing spell at Old Trafford, while he is also currently the fourth-highest scorer for the Dutch national team with 39 goals in just 77 games.

Clearly a prolific attacking presence, Depay also offers the flexibility to play a number of positions, lining up as a centre-forward, a winger or even in a playmaking number ten role in recent seasons.

His versatility would no doubt prove invaluable to Hammers boss David Moyes, with the £158k-per-week "baller" - as he has been dubbed by BT Sport - offering undoubted additional quality to a side that has so often been far too reliant on Jarrod Bowen this season.

A "joy to watch", according to Ronald Koeman, the one-time PSV Eindhoven ace has the talent to set the Premier League alight should he take the leap of faith and link up with the Irons, with the club able to offer him the talismanic status that he has been denied at present.

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