Examining What PSV Eindhoven's Memphis Depay Would Bring to Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven's Dutch international forward Memphis Depay has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, but what would the 21-year-old bring to the Merseyside club?
David Maddock of the Mirror detailed last week how Depay had held "secret talks" with the club.
"Sources in Eindhoven have revealed the 21-year-old was hugely impressed not only by Liverpool’s determination in pursuing him for more than a year, but also in the vision they presented," Maddock noted. "They have been told by PSV that the fee for the player who starred at the 2014 World Cup will be around £20 million."
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With the Reds struggling in the Premier League and beyond this season, reinforcement in the summer is vital.
So how would Depay help manager Brendan Rodgers' cause?
Depay's 2014/15 Season
The insurmountable speculation surrounding Depay's long-term future this season comes off the back of a largely unexpected success with PSV.
Defeating SC Heerenveen 4-1 earlier this month, Eindhoven secured their first Eredivisie title in eight years, toppling the four-season dominance of Ajax along the way.
Manager Phillip Cocu deserves major credit for this achievement, and he expressed his joy after the game, as reported by Berend Scholten on UEFA.com:
"This is great, to celebrate the title today at home. My players really deserved this. We had a clear goal and we achieved it. We worked for this all year and now today we can feel it for real. These are the moments you do it for. This is a title the whole club has been longing for for quite some time.
"
Having motivated a successful side featuring the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum, Luuk de Jong, Adam Maher, Andres Guardado and Luciano Narsingh, Cocu has witnessed some sensational football as PSV manager this season.
The jewel in this title-winning PSV crown is Depay.
As is typically the case with the lesser-regarded Dutch league, Cocu is seemingly resigned to losing his most prominent talent this summer, with his words relayed by Sport Express (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Mirror).
"At some point, it becomes clear that he is ready for the next step. And yes, I think he's going to leave PSV after this season," Cocu relented. "That's unfortunate, but on the other hand, we must as a club be proud because we have trained him."
Depay's destination could well be Liverpool.
What Would He Bring to Liverpool?
Depay is a predominantly left-sided attacking midfielder, but one whose abilities would lend well to a variety of roles in the Liverpool forward line.
With 21 goals in 28 Eredivisie games so far this season, the immediate quality that Depay would bring to Liverpool is that of being able to find the back of the net with regularity—something that Rodgers has seen his side struggle with throughout 2014/15, having scored just 47 league goals this season compared to last term's 101.
The manager told BBC Sport after Liverpool's recent 0-0 draw away to West Bromwich Albion that finding a solution to this problem was a major priority.
"I was pleased how the players kept their patience and kept working the ball [but] the one area we were missing, as for most of the season, was goals," he said.
Trying to put a positive spin on the situation is admirable, but even Rodgers will be alarmed at how profligate his side have been this term.
Depay could help solve that, taking over from Liverpool's last Eredivisie import, Luis Suarez.
The way in which Depay goes about his game would also align well with the needs of Liverpool. He is an audacious, skilful forward with great dribbling technique and almost effortless ability.
This season, Depay has averaged 2.8 dribbles per league game, more than all but two Liverpool players, with Raheem Sterling (3.1) and Philippe Coutinho (3.0) slightly more prolific; joining the pair, Depay could add a further unpredictability to Rodgers' side.
His goalscoring ability and dribbling skill would be paired with a top-class creative output, as Depay also averages 2.1 key passes per league game, level with Liverpool's highest: Sterling.
Depay could join a hard-working, pace-based attack alongside Sterling and Coutinho, as well as the likes of Jordon Ibe, Lazar Markovic and Daniel Sturridge. On paper, this would be a devastating forward line.
One further quality that the 21-year-old could bring to Rodgers' Liverpool squad is a canny prowess when taking set pieces—one that the Reds will be lacking if Mario Balotelli joins Steven Gerrard out of the exit door this summer.
Depay helped secure the Eredivisie title for PSV with an excellent, curled free-kick in the win over Heerenveen—one of many from this season alone.
With all of these qualities melted down into one player, Depay would add significantly to Rodgers' squad.
"Marquee Players"
After Liverpool's miserable midweek loss to Hull City, Rodgers outlined his vision for once again rebuilding his side over the summer, as reported by Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo.
"For supporters, and for players themselves, it is always great if you can get in those marquee players that can really help you," Rodgers claimed. "And I think we can see that that's the type, maybe the one or two players, that we need."
The manager also added, encouragingly: "The club are working very hard, and the owners will support that. If they are attainable, and affordable within the model, the club will do everything they can to get them."
His words seemingly point directly to a player of Depay's profile.
At 21, Depay may still be a developing talent, but his exploits for the Netherlands at the World Cup and for a title-winning PSV side this season have made him one of the biggest names in Europe, as well as a crucially experienced, successful player.
Adding Depay to this Liverpool squad would not only boost their chances on the field, but also raise the profile of the club off it.
As Maddock attests: "[Rodgers] sees the capture of one of Europe’s most exciting talents as a massive statement in the summer transfer market."
Rodgers' point that the "players themselves" appreciate big-name signings is an interesting one, and in theory this calibre of acquisition would add a level of character and an occasion-quelling quality that the Reds have lacked this season.
Liverpool's failure to edge past Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals earlier this month is a perfect example, as indicated by former Reds defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher via Twitter:
"Big games need big players"—Depay could be that player.
With Liverpool missing firepower, dynamism and big-game players (even more so with Gerrard's summer departure), Depay could solve a large portion of Rodgers' problems this summer.
Whether he is truly attainable is another question, but Liverpool should move fast and secure his signing if they are to back up their ambition this summer.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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