Man United ready to chalk up high-profile signing as a dud
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Should it come to an end as widely expected this summer, Louis van Gaal’s tenure as Manchester United boss will not be remembered too fondly.
Rather than trophies and success, the Dutchman has instead brought a lot of new players to Old Trafford. Few of them will go down in history as United greats.
Among the highest-profile mistakes on Van Gaal’s CV are Angel Di Maria, shipped off to Paris Saint-Germain last summer after just one season, and the costly loan of Radamel Falcao.
However, if the latest media reports are to be believed, Memphis Depay isn’t too far from being added to the list.
The 22-year-old was a £25m purchase from PSV at the start of the season, but has found transitioning from the Eredivisie into Premier League life tough.
Depay has been limited to just 15 top-flight starts this term becoming little more than an impact sub as the campaign wore on. Instead, Van Gaal trusted home-grown youngster Jesse Lingard ahead of his countryman.
The Sunday Mirror reports that the under-fire tactician has sanctioned the sale of the former PSV skipper, suggesting the winger will be available at what they call a “knock-down price.”
Having added his signature to a four-year contract after shining for Van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup, Depay simply hasn’t been able to recapture his form for the Red Devils, who now appear ready to cut their losses.
A disappointing campaign has seen Van Gaal lose touch with the Champions League places, sitting four points behind Arsenal in fifth, although a first FA Cup final appearance since 2007 is something of a saving grace.
Anthony Martial’s last-gasp winner against Everton in the semi-final sealed that spot and Ladbrokes now make United 1/3 to lift the trophy.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
