Manchester United have reached an agreement with PSV Eindhoven over a £22million transfer of Memphis Depay, both clubs have confirmed.
The Holland international played for Louis van Gaal during the World Cup Finals last summer, and the Reds head coach has continued to track his progress this season. For that reason it is no wonder he has made his move for the forward, who has played an integral role in helping PSV to a first league title since 2008 by topping the Eredivisie scoring charts with 21 goals in 28 games.
Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur were both interested in signing Depay, but his current employers revealed on Thursday they had accepted an offer of £22million from United for his signature. The Old Trafford club then went on to confirm this, and the 21-year-old is due in Manchester in the coming days to undergo a medical having already agreed personal terms on the move.
Losing Depay will be a blow to PSV, albeit an inevitable one, and technical director Marcel Brands said: “We are very proud of this upcoming transfer, which came in a huge moment. He ‘s a wonderful exponent of our training and will make a nice transition to a magnificent club in a beautiful competition. We lose obviously a fantastic player, but PSV grants him these wonderful step.”
Depay will become the fourth player to join United from PSV, with the three previous signings from the Philips Stadion enjoy huge success at Old Trafford. Jaap Stam was part of the 1999 treble-winning side, whilst Ruud van Nistelrooy is remembered as one of the most prolific goalscorers in their history, and Ji-Sung Park won four Premier League titles and the 2008 UEFA Champions League.
Is the signing of Memphis Depay another piece of Manchester United’s next title-winning jigsaw, and how much of a blow is it for Liverpool to miss out?
