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‘He’s bulked up’: Joe Cole says £15m Tottenham target has put on so much muscle now, he looks ‘heavy’
Joe Cole has said live on that reported Tottenham target Memphis Depay has bulked up too much. He made the claim ahead of the Netherlands taking on Qatar in their final Group A game earlier this afternoon.
Depay has been linked with a move to North London in January. He’s been at Barcelona since 2021 but his move to the Nou Camp hasn’t been particularly fruitful in terms of game time.
As a result, they could consider offloading him. Tottenham are keen to sign the player who might have a point to prove after a spell at Manchester United which saw him score seven times in 53 appearances.
It’s claimed that Depay may cost as little as . If that is the case then perhaps Tottenham could do a lot worse than add the Dutch international to their ranks when the window reopens.
Former Chelsea and West Ham player Cole has noticed something about Depay. It’s not necessarily a good thing either and the ex-England man thinks he’s now too big to be as effective as he used to be.
“He’s bulked up. It often happens when you have a long-term injury and you get into the gym. He looks quite heavy. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s moving when he plays and it’s crucial to the Dutch that he does get up to speed because he gives them that spark.”
Cole says Depay has bulked up too much
It’s fair to say that Cole might have a point. Over the years, the former United man had developed a knack for being nimble and light on his feet, renowned for skipping past defenders.
Now, he’s developed into a more powerful performer. The 28-year-old could be on the move though and he’s made just three appearances during 2022/23; totalling 131 minutes on the pitch.
It would be an interesting move for Antonio Conte to land him. He likes his players to be super fit to play in his system and it’s hard to imagine Depay being a mainstay in the team in his current shape.
Cole’s advice is unlikely to be taken on board by Tottenham. He does have a serious point though. With that in mind, perhaps Spurs would be wise to think carefully before making a decision on Depay in January.