Should Man Utd make a move for former flop Memphis?

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 4 min read

Memphis Depay reportedly wants to leave Barcelona on a free transfer in January, with former club Manchester United mooted as a possible destination for the Dutchman, but does it make any sense to bring him back?

Memphis first signed for United in a €34 million deal from PSV Eindhoven as a 21-year-old in 2015, but he never really settled at Old Trafford and the club took an €18m hit on him selling him to Lyon in January 2017 after he had mustered just seven goals and six assists in 53 appearances in all competitions.

But Memphis re-found his form over four-and-a-half years in France, his output climbing to 76 goals and 55 assists in 178 games for a goal-involvement every 102 minutes he played for OL before joining Barcelona as one of the most in-demand Bosman free transfers in the summer of 2021.

READ: Walking in Memphis: Depay Man Utd-bound after free transfer demand?

The Dutchman joined Barca in a time of crisis, the club €1.35 billion in debt and having seen Lionel Messi leave on a free to Paris Saint-Germain that same summer, but he got his head down and ended the campaign as their top scorer in La Liga with 12 goals from 28 games.

He was understandably aggrieved when the Blaugrana signed Robert Lewandowski - a player in his position - for €50m from Bayern Munich this summer, and is now seeking to leave them on a free in January, despite his contract running until June next year.

"Depay has no intention of extending his contract," report Spanish soirts daily Mundo Deportivo. "And if he leaves in January he wants to do it as a free agent to possibly win a signing on fee rather than see Barca profiting."

READ: Man Utd's transfer plans: Next steps of Ten Hag's overhaul revealed

Memphis walking back in?

Should United swoop? There is more than one argument in favour of so doing. Memphis may not have worked out at United the last time, but he has scored goals in France and, more importantly, Spain since, and he also has a stunning record for the Netherlands, one of the favourites for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

Memphis levelled the great Johan Cruyff's international goal haul of 33 last September, and is now up 42 goals in 81 games with his national team, alongside his 30 provisions. If the Dutch go deep in Qatar, Memphis will be a large part of the reason why.

Depay can also play more than one position. He would happily lead the line which Cristiano Ronaldo will soon vacate, but he is also just as deadly cutting in from the left-hand side with somebody else playing right up top.

Still just 28, Memphis represents real value if he's available on a free, and if Erik ten Hag thinks he can get a tune out of him, it would cost the suits at Old Trafford very little to find out if he is right.