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Liverpool have been in hot pursuit of PSV attacker Memphis Depay in recent weeks, and for good reason. The 21-year-old has scored 24 goals this season playing primarily as a winger, and many have identified him as a future superstar goalscorer for one of Europe's best teams. When Tony Barrett confirmed that Liverpool were engaged in talks with Depay last week, it was difficult to repress visions of the player banging in goals at Anfield.
But the Mirror now reports that Liverpool have cooled their interest in Depay after learning the severity of Daniel Sturridge's hip injury, leading to much head scratching and confusion. The report states that after the Sturridge injury Brendan Rodgers has turned "his attention to landing a centre-forward" as he needs "all his transfer kitty to land a big-hitter up front." The problem with such thinking is that Depay is already a prolific scorer at an extremely young age and could very well transition to the striker position in the near future. Moreover, the Eredivise star impressed last summer at the World Cup, showing that he can handle a jump up in competition. That all sounds like a certain someone who used to play for Ajax, doesn't it?
If Liverpool fail to sign Depay because he is out of their price range or he wants to play elsewhere it would be disappointing but ultimately understandable. But if they pass on him because they don't see him as a goalscorer despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, it would be a terrible mistake.
