Manchester United forward Memphis Depay has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford for a few months now.
Of course, United had not accepted a bid for Depay, because the market for the Dutch winger is very much down. That appears to have changed today with Old Trafford now receiving a bid that they find acceptable. French side Lyon was among the few interested clubs, (Everton was too) and the price they’re willing to pay is half what United paid in May of 2015.
Still, it looks like a deal has now been struck.
Via The Guardian:
Manchester United have agreed to sell Memphis Depay to Lyon for around €17m (£14.75m), with the fee potentially rising to €25m if a series of add-ons are triggered.
United have structured the deal with the Ligue 1 club to include buy-back and sell-on clauses. Lyon qualifying for the Champions League and Depay being offered a fresh contract by the French club are among the add-ons that will raise the price for United.
Flop doesn’t even begin to describe what Memphis Depay was at Man United. He did have some moments early on, against much lesser opponents in international competition, but he never really accomplished anything in Premier League competition. He was such a disappointment since being brought up from the Dutch Eredivisie (where he was the league leading scorer with PSV Eindhoven) that United are now finalizing a deal in which they’ll take a huge financial hit.
Bought by fellow countryman Louis van Gaal, Depay has been frozen out under Mourinho. He’s only made one start this season, in the EFL Cup versus Northampton Town, and he was even subbed off early in that one.
Memphis Depay Here’s what Mourinho had to say about the bench players who aren’t seeing the pitch back on December 21st.
“I still have some bad feelings to myself because I didn’t give a real chance to everyone,” Mourinho was then quoted by Sky Sports News.
“There are some positions in our squad where we have overbooked, particularly in the attacking wide positions.”
“People like Ashley and Memphis, I didn’t give them a run of matches to play and to prove. I have a little bad feeling.”
Well, now Depay gets a chance to re-discover and rejuvenate himself in Ligue 1, where he’s sure to get more playing time. It’s best for everyone involved most certainly.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, Bold and the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication, appears regularly as a guest on CGTN America, WGN CLTV News and KOZN 1620 The Zone.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram