PSV Eindhoven have confirmed that Manchester United have made enquiries as to the summer availability of their starlet Memphis Depay.
A number of clubs, including PSG and Liverpool, are said to be interested in signing the 21 year-old, but recently the on the winger linking up with his ‘father figure’ Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford club.
This came after PSV’s technical director Marcel Brands told a Dutch television channel that ‘we have had a telephone call from them about him.”
Title Glory
Depay endured something of a tricky childhood, and in 2012 decided to drop his surname from the back of his shirt in a snub to his father. He now goes by the name of ‘Memphis’.
And it’s served him well, as he helped PSV to their first Eredivisie title in nearly a decade and bagged himself 20 goals in the process. That form has led to him becoming one of the most sought-after talents in European football – although it’s clear that Manchester United are the favourites to land his signature.
It was Van Gaal’s use of Depay as an impact substitute in Holland’s World Cup campaign which really caught the football world’s attention; the diminutive forward scoring twice and creating another in his side’s run to the semi finals.
He became Holland’s youngest ever , and was nominated on the three player shortlist for the tournament’s Best Young Player prize.
Goal Machine
Reports suggest that the Manchester club are more than happy to offer the Dutch international the £130,000 salary he desires, and in return will be hoping he can fire the goals to power them into title-winning contention in the 2015/16 season.
The Red Devils have not been at their free-scoring best this campaign; due largely to the pragmatic style of Van Gaal teams, but also the lack of goals from the injury-hit Robin Van Persie and disappointing loan signing Radamel Falcao. Indeed, they have averaged just 1.78 goals per game – when they last won the title in 2012/13 they rattled in 2.26.
Marquee Signing
PSV have slapped a £25 million price tag on Depay’s head, although that won’t deter Van Gaal who is reported to have an incredible £150 million war chest to bring the Premier League trophy back to Old Trafford.
The likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Mats Hummels and Paul Pogba have already been linked with a move, but whoever joins it is likely that Memphis will still be the marquee signing of the summer for Manchester United.
