United take £7m hit on Depay
MANCHESTER United have agreed a fee with Lyon for Memphis Depay – with the club staring at a loss of about £7million on a player signed 18 months ago.
The Dutch winger arrived with much fanfare when Louis van Gaal paid PSV £25m in the summer of 2015.
But Jose Mourinho wasted little time this season in deciding that Depay, 22, has no future at Old Trafford and his one start came against Northampton in the League Cup, with even that performance ending after 55 minutes.
Mourinho admitted he had stopped even considering Depay for selection with his departure imminent, but expected interest from Everton failed to materialise.
Ronald Koeman wanted Depay on loan but United will only consider a permanent deal and Lyon have since emerged as the only serious contenders.
The French side failed with an opening bid of £13m – barely half of what United paid – then had an offer of about £15m rejected. But last night they finally agreed on a fee – believed to be in the region of £18m – which could rise to £21m with add-ons.
Van Gaal, meanwhile, has said he is not quitting football, despite appearing to suggest retired.
The 65-year-old has been out of work since leaving United last summer and on Monday said he turned down offers from the Far East as he was not keen to return to football.
But yesterday Van Gaal said: “I have not retired. I’m just taking a sabbatical year and will decide next July.
“Valencia offered me the manager’s job a month ago. I said no.” that he had