It looks like Manchester United are losing on their first transfer signing for the upcoming January transfer window. English Media Outlet DAILY EXPRESS have reported that the Red Devils have been given the green light to sign Dutch sensation Memphis Depay in the winter transfer market. It is believed that PSV Eindhoven are resigned to the fact that they will sell their prized asset should the £18m asking price is met.
Manager Louis Van Gaal has been a keen admirer of Depay and the midfielder was also a transfer target for the Premier League giants in the summer but he finally opted to stay in his homeland. But now it is believed that PSV manager Phillip Cocu has admitted that Depay is set to leave the club. Cocu said: “Of course Memphis will be sold, you can’t stop that but it’s okay.
“It’s great you can build up a player like him, who breaks through, succeeds at PSV then leaves the club when he’s ready for a bigger step. That’s great. I really thought it would be the best for him if he stayed here with us. It’s important for him to play around fifty matches in a season before he makes the next step. Nothing else makes you a better player than a lot of games. He can become way better, he’s so explosive.”
The move though seems a bit surprising. No doubt that Depay is a world class talent but the 20 year old primarily functions as a left winger. With Angel Di Maria already in the squad and Adnan Januzaj already being in Van Gaal’s scheme of things, Depay’s arrival would build further competition for places for one position.
However, in hindsight it might be true that it is a move which is designed to play Di Maria in a more central role where the Argentine can get himself more involved in the attacking build up play. Moreover, DEpay can also function as a supporting striker just off the main man up front or could also be used as an inverted winger.