Barcelona and Manchester United have reportedly held talks over a deal for 28-year-old Dutch attacker Memphis Depay.
According to reputed German journalist Florian Plettenberg, Memphis Depay is closer to leaving Barcelona in the January transfer window. The Catalan giants are open to letting the 28-year-old attacker depart as a free agent. And the two parties are in contact with Manchester United over a possible deal.
Memphis Depay is at a crossroads in his career after tumbling down the pecking order at Spotify Camp Nou. The Dutch international was the joint-top scorer for Barcelona last season. But the arrival of several offensive reinforcements in the summer has invariably made him a peripheral figure.
The 28-year-old has managed only 131 minutes of game time across three outings. An untimely hamstring injury did not help Depay’s cause either, as he missed nearly two months of action ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. And he is yet to start a game for the Netherlands in Qatar. Meanwhile, the player’s situation has captured the attention of Manchester United.
The Dutchman previously spent 18 months at Manchester United when he was yet to reach his peak. And Depay will not look back fondly at his stint with the Red Devils as he blew hot and cold at Old Trafford. So the Barcelona attacker might reckon he has unfinished business at Manchester United.
News #Depay: He is also on the list of #MUFC. We‘ve been told that Ten Hag can really imagine bringing him back. There is contact between all parties. Barca would even terminate the contract, desperately wants to save the salary. @Sky_Marc @SkySportDE 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/PSrkcNiVnx
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) November 25, 2022
The Red Devils need to bolster their offensive unit following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese international is no longer at Manchester United following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan. And with Ronaldo and Manchester United mutually deciding to terminate his contract, the need for an offensive reinforcement has arisen.
Depay has thus emerged as a viable January target for Manchester United. And according to Florian Plettenberg, Manchester United and Barcelona have been in talks over a possible deal for the 28-year-old attacker. The Red Devils have also contacted the Dutchman over a winter move.
The German journalist has added that Barcelona will be open to letting him leave as a free agent. That contradicts some recent claims that point towards a price tag worth €15 million. So it will be interesting to see if the 28-year-old returns to Manchester United on a free transfer in January.
