Louis van Gaal has refused to be draw into discussions over reports linking Manchester United with a move for Memphis Depay.
The Reds boss knows the winger well having coached him for Holland, including at last summer’s World Cup Finals in Brazil when he made three appearances for the eventual semi-finalists. Depay has continued his progress into the current season, scoring 20 goals in 27 appearances to inspire PSV Eindhoven to a 22nd Eredivisie title and their first since 2008.
It has been widely reported that van Gaal is keen to add the 21-year-old to his United squad when the transfer window reopens, and it has even been suggested that the player has flown into England to hold talks over a potential £25million transfer. And Michael Brands, the technical director of the Dutch club, admitted earlier this week that Old Trafford club had been in touch.
Liverpool are also known admirers of Depay, but his connection with van Gaal would make United favourites for his signature. But speaking ahead of the trip to Everton on Sunday, the head coach of the 20-times league champions would only say: “I don’t discuss it with the media. I have a lot of relationships with players. I cannot buy all the players I have coached already.”
Depay signed a new contract with PSV last summer which ties him to the club until 2018, but as we have seen on more occasions than can be counted, this means little should an significant offer for his signature be made when the window reopens. Indeed, despite their recent title success, coach Philip Cocu already appears to be resigned to losing his star player in the coming weeks.
“Louis van Gaal is a very good coach with whom I have worked and he was always very pleasant,” Cocu is quoted in the Friday edition of the Manchester Evening News in regards to the potential summer transfer of his player. “And the Premier League is a great league. I have contact with Memphis Depay on a daily basis about many things, but not on a specific club or league.”
Is Depay’s move to Old Trafford inevitable this summer, and could he make the difference when it comes to the Reds challenging for the league title?
