Memphis Depay Deal Shows Manchester United See Early Summer Transfers as Vital
Appointed manager of Manchester United on 19 May 2014, Louis van Gaal was otherwise engaged at last summer's Brazilian World Cup, stalling the beginning of his Old Trafford project.
The Netherlands achieved a third-place finish at the world's foremost footballing competition, meaning the Dutch played the maximum amount of possible fixtures, keeping them active in South America until the competition's penultimate day.
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At the helm of his country's national team, Van Gaal must have found balancing both jobs difficult. This challenge translated into Manchester United's less-than-timely and sporadic transfer dealings.
Other than the expensive purchases of Ander Herrera (£29 million) and Luke Shaw (£27 million) in late June, no other incoming deals were completed before August—likely because Van Gaal was in Brazil for an extended portion of the offseason.
Most of United's summer business last year transpired after the 2014/15 season had already begun.
Marcos Rojo (£16 million) Angel Di Maria (£59.7 million) and Daley Blind (£13.8 million) were purchased after 16 August. Similarly, Danny Welbeck was sold to Arsenal for £16 million on deadline day, while Colombian striker Radamel Falcao was loaned in from AS Monaco at the window's death.
It seems after a season full of ups and downs—with 2015/16 Champions League football still in doubt—Van Gaal has identified his squad's weaknesses and plans a summer campaign to combat them.
According to Manchester United's official website, the Red Devils have agreed to sign their first player in summer 2015—announcing a deal for PSV Eindhoven's Memphis Depay. The 21-year-old winger's signing bodes well for next season's project but more is required.
David Kent of the Daily Mail suggests Depay is the first of four blockbuster deals Van Gaal hopes to accomplish this upcoming transfer window. Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund) and Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton) are all thought to be targets of the English giants.
Should these deals be wanted by Van Gaal, he must implore those with the chequebook to move swiftly; taking cues from Jose Mourinho and Chelsea.
The Portuguese coach identified his club's weak points in 2013/14 and quickly bought Diego Costa (£32 million) and Cesc Fabregas (£27 million, per The Telegraph's Matt Law) last summer, eventually earning the west Londoners a 2014/15 double.
Now chasing the Blues for domestic supremacy, United have used Van Gaal's inaugural Premier League campaign to test a multitude of formations, players and tactics, so their summer blueprint should be firmly in place by the window's opening in June.
Manchester's blueprint should commence with finding targets (which United allegedly have). Then transition to purchasing them in haste (which United have started). Next, acclimate them to Van Gaal's training methods, then lastly—proceed to win trophies, or at least contend.
While the latter will prove arduous, with the calibre of players United have and are chasing (plus the money being spent on their acquisition), merely competing for silverware should be a relative afterthought.
David Moyes won the 2013 Community Shield, Van Gaal won the 2014 International Champions Cup, both pre-season competitions with little to zero weight attached. The last meaningful trophy a Manchester United captain lifted, however, was the 2012/13 Premier League trophy when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge.
As arguably the biggest club in England—and the third largest club in world football—a three-season trophy drought would be unthinkable.
Van Gaal has the funds, pedigree and (in all likelihood) the Champions League carrot to tempt world-class footballers onto Old Trafford's sizable pitch; anything short of contention next season, and United's board will have turbulent waters to navigate in deciding their managerial future.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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