Rumour Mongering: Liverpool Want Memphis on a Free

According to Marca, Liverpool FC, along with Barcelona and Juventus, are interested in signing Memphis Depay on a free transfer this summer. The Dutch attacker is having another productive season at Lyon, with 15 goals and nine assists in all competitions.

The former Manchester United player is a name that has popped up often in the last couple of years when fans and analysts have discussed potential transfers for Liverpool.. and it’s easy to see why. He’s a good player but would be firmly below the pecking order in a team with Salah, Mane, Firmino, and Jota, presumably providing depth as cover along with Shaqiri, Minamino, Elliot, or Origi, depending on who leaves or stays. He’s versatile, having played as a left-winger early in his career, although he currently plays most of his minutes through the middle as a centre-forward for Lyon these days.

I’m somewhat sceptical of this rumour - he’s one of those names that just keep getting linked with Liverpool. A tug-of-war between Liverpool and United was supposedly happening back in the summer of 2015. United got Memphis, and Ian Ayre popped up randomly to pose with Roberto Firmino so it kind of worked out in our favour. And yet... I can’t discount it completely because we know FSG loves a bargain. Having a vet who’s played in the league, and can provide cover for multiple positions would be useful. He had a rough season for United, but playing in Louis van Gaal’s ultra-conservative system surely did him no favours, and he’s seemingly matured by leaps and bounds since then. For the right price (of free), it could be a signing that plugs multiple gaps in the squad.