Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are both interested in signing Memphis Depay from Lyon according to reports from Calciomercato (via The Sun), with the clubs set to table bids in the region of £50m.
Depay, 25, has been with Lyon since 2017, after a stint with Manchester United. The Dutch international revealed he now believes himself to be “more mature” than when he first arrived at 21 and after improved exploits in Ligue 1 would be an asset to either side. He can play anywhere across a front three and is particularly lethal from dead-ball situations.
The History and Statistics
After impressing at youth level for Sparta Rotterdam, Depay was persuaded to join PSV’s academy and made his Eredivisie debut for them in 2012 against Feyenoord. A month later he was substituted on for Dries Mertens and scored his first league goal for PSV against Heerenveen.
Though, his breakthrough year in Eindhoven was 2013/14 where the winger scored 12 times in 32 appearances, to establish himself as one of the Dutch top flight’s brightest prospects. Along with his goals the midfielder registered seven assists, which highlight his creative capabilities in addition to his goalscoring exploits.
The following year was even more impressive in front of goal, finding the back of the net on 22 occasions in the league while contributing three in six Europa League appearances. His vastly increased output prompted the Netherlands to include him in their 2014 World Cup squad, as Louis Van Gaal’s side finished the tournament in third place.
Having impressed domestically and at the World Cup, Van Gaal elected to bring Depay with him to Manchester United, where the national team manager had just taken over post-World Cup. Though Depay rapidly fell out of favour at United after a lacklustre debut season which produced only two Premier League goals in 29 appearances.
After a disappointing first season at Old Trafford, he accumulated just four Premier League appearances in the first half of the 2016/17 campaign, all of them as a substitute, showing the degree to which he had fallen out of favour.
In January he was sold to Lyon where his form returned as he finished his first six months with five goals and seven assists in Ligue 1. That upsurge in attacking contribution has been sustained in France as he has scored and assisted in double figures for both of his last two seasons.
The Prospects
Since arriving in France, Depay has significantly increased the consistency with which he is finding the back of the net for himself, as well as providing opportunities for his teammates.
If he was to join either Liverpool or Tottenham as Calciomercato (via The Sun) suggest, he would improve the depth of their squad while also challenging for a starting place. His versatility will be seen as an asset to both sides as he can be deployed in central attacking and wide left roles, in addition to the number ten position behind the front-three.
Depay leads the line for the Dutch national side and will do so at the European Championships next year, suggesting he has come of age to accept a large amount of responsibility as the Netherlands take part in their first major tournament since 2014.
Liverpool, in particular, may benefit more from signing Depay as his role for his national team and Lyon is similar to that of Roberto Firmino, operating as more of a centre forward who drops between midfield and the opposition defence. As well as this, he would also be able to cover for either Sadio Mane or Mohamed Salah; two players who Liverpool do not currently have much cover for.
While there is no certainty, based on his improving maturity and exploits in France, Depay would likely be a much greater success on his return to the Premier League, and £50m is not an outrageous price for a player who should still have his best years ahead of him.
