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Manchester United ‘speeding up plans to re-sign Memphis Depay in January after Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract was torn up’ with Barcelona ‘excited to sack the Dutchman in January’
- Memphis Depay was previously signed by Manchester United at the end of 2014/15
- However, the Dutchman failed to fulfill his early career promise at PSV
- Was quickly sacked before rebuilding his career and reputation at Lyon
- The time at Barcelona has proven that the battle has fallen in the pecking order
- Returned from injury for the Netherlands’ victory over Senegal at the World Cup
Manchester United are reportedly in the market to sensationally re-capture Memphis Depay.
The Dutchman, who joined United from PSV ahead of the 2015-16 season, arrived in the North West with much fanfare and promise, but failed before being transferred to Lyon in 2017.
After somewhat rebuilding his career at Lyon, Depay achieved another dream move to one of the giants of world football when he signed for Barcelona last year.
Memphis Depay is reportedly being pursued by Manchester United to re-sign him in January
It was a move that paid off some initially, with the Dutchman transferring his Ligue 1 appearances to Spain, but things have since turned sour, with Xavi Hernandez and the club’s vocal supporters appearing to be on the same page about it his future spot at the club. club.
According to Sporta Spanish publication, United will try to offer him a way out of the club in January as they look to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, whose contract was terminated following his stellar interview with Piers Morgan last week.
The report says that United have been working to re-sign the striker, with Barcelona certain to sign his departure. The Catalans are reportedly ‘clear’ that he must leave this winter.
As with all Barcelona players at the moment, there are clear contract issues hanging over them, a reason cited as why he didn’t move to Juventus in the summer, a move that was mooted throughout July and much of August.
With six months left on his contract from January, he is unlikely to prove as much of a stumbling block as he did over the summer. Sport argue that if Depay receives a satisfactory financial offer from United, he will waive the money owed to him for the few months left on his Barcelona deal.
The Dutchman struggled during his spell at the club in 2015/16 and early in 2016/17 before being loaned out and then sold on
A stumbling block for United, however, could prove to be in the form of the Champions League, with one of Depay’s reported conditions for his next club being entry into Europe’s elite competition.
Chelsea, another party reportedly interested in the 28-year-old, could of course meet such demands.
The Spanish publication states that another condition is a required financial stimulus, with the former PSV man Juventus allegedly asking for £6 million a year this summer.
Having made just three appearances for Barcelona this season, largely due to a thigh injury, Depay has struggled particularly this season with the World Cup offering him the chance to showcase himself.
Despite getting too much fanfare, Depay struggled to make the world small with his performances
Speaking after the Netherlands’ opener with Senegal on Monday, which they won 2-0, Depay dismissed any rumored transfer speculation as the World Cup was underway.
“The injury was tough, but I’ve already recovered and I’m enjoying a World Cup,” he said.
“I don’t want to think about the past, I’m focused on the World Cup. I don’t want to think beyond this game either. I don’t know what will happen after the World Cup.’
He added: ‘I’m very happy to be playing again. It took me a long time to reappear.
The attacker has struggled for playing time at Barcelona through a combination of injury and a drop in the pecking order
“It hasn’t been easy mentally, but I worked hard to get there and I played for half an hour. It’s a step. It’s incredible to play football again.’
If he signed, United fans would hope for a better return this time around. In his 45 appearances in his first season, he scored just seven times, netting another six.
In his eight appearances the following year, he did not register a goal or an assist before being transferred to Lyon, initially on loan before joining them permanently for £22 million.