Barcelona outcast Memphis Depay is reportedly eager to rejoin Manchester United in this winter transfer window.
The Netherlands international, 28, has dropped down the attacking pecking order at Barcelona since the arrivals of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha at the start of the season. Injury problems have restricted him to just four appearances so far, and while he recovered from a hamstring injury to make it to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the forward wants to leave the club in search of regular game time.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, Memphis Depay is eyeing a return to Manchester United. Barcelona are looking to recoup some money for the forward, knowing that it cannot be very big since he is out of contract at the end of the season.
On the other hand, Manchester United are looking to sign a forward following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo but they want to bring someone on loan for the remainder of the campaign. The report adds the Erik ten Hag-managed club are yet to make any proposal to Depay.
Memphis Depay to Man United—Should they make a move?
Manchester United have already signed Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland on loan for the remainder of the season. They have now shifted their focus towards getting in a new striker to not only fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo but also add cover and competition for Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
Martial has endured another injury-hit campaign at Old Trafford and it is vital for Erik ten Hag to manage his game time in order to keep the forward fit, with games set to come thick and fast. An injury to Martial would leave Ten Hag with the only forward option in Rashford, who is the club’s top scorer with 13 goals and has been in unbelievable form since the campaign’s resumption.
It makes total sense for Man United to bring in a new forward, making Barcelona’s Memphis Depay a feasible option. Depay had a forgettable stint with Man United when he joined as a youngster from PSV Eindhoven in 2015 under then-manager Louis van Gaal. His first spell at Old Trafford last just two years, during which he managed only seven goals in 53 appearances.
Since joining Lyon from Man United in 2017, the Dutchman has evolved into a more traditional centre-forward and scored plenty of goals. Depay also enjoyed a decent debut campaign with Barcelona, where he netted 12 goals in 28 La Liga appearances.
Now at crossroads with manager Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona, the 28-year-old is keen to leave Camp Nou for regular game time and will be looking to prove himself in the Premier League this time around. Depay can operate anywhere across the front three, and his versatility, pace, experience and dynamism should make him a good fit under Ten Hag.
If Man United can somehow pull off Depay’s signing for a reasonable fee this month, it could prove to be a shrewd move for them.