Manchester United have been linked with a move for ex-Red Devil Memphis Depay, according to reports in Spain.
The 28-year-old has barely featured for Barcelona this season due to injuries and not being in favour under current Catalans boss Xavi.
Although the Dutchman looks to have proven his fitness ahead of the 2022 World Cup having recovered from a thigh injury, the Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has confirmed that Depay won’t start Oranje’s tournament opener against Senegal.
Barcelona’s number 14 hasn’t played since picking up a thigh injury during Holland’s 2-0 win against Poland in the UEFA Nations League back in September.
The former Lyon marksman hasn’t played for two months and will be lacking match fitness heading into the tournament in the Middle East.
But that hasn’t stopped Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia tipping him to pick up the Golden Boot.
Depay has only played three times for Barcelona, one of which he scored in, but he’s only accumulated 131 minutes of game time at club level.
Manchester United linked with move for Memphis Depay
With the likes of Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski all seemingly ahead of him in the Blaugrana pecking order, the former PSV Eindhoven youngster has been tipped to leave the Nou Camp in the January transfer window.
With Barca keen to reduce their wage bill after splashing the cash in the summer and Depay’s contract expiring in June, a move could prove quite easy to broker with our Europa League play-off opponents given that the 81-time Netherlands international is on the periphery with the La Liga giants.
Alongside Arsenal and Chelsea, AS report that Erik ten Hag‘s Manchester United are considering re-signing the man who was sold by Jose Mourinho to Lyon five-and-a-half years ago.
With Cristiano Ronaldo‘s departure imminent, Ten Hag will likely want to sign a replacement for the 37-year-old in the January transfer window, and with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s massive wages off the books, a move for Depay could be a possibility.
With Anthony Martial struggling with injuries and no replacement for Edinson Cavani signed in the summer, Ten Hag won’t want to go into the second part of the season light on numbers upfront.
Having been brought to the Theatre of Dreams by Van Gaal in 2015 from PSV, at the age of 21, Depay only managed seven goals from 53 appearances before getting his career back on track with Lyon.
Depay has the versatility to play anywhere across the forward line and given he already knows the club and may feel like he has unfinished business with the twenty-time league champions, a return to Manchester could suit all parties.