Manchester United Transfer News: New Memphis Depay Details, Nani Return Rumours

Manchester United moved quickly to secure the signature of Memphis Depay on Thursday, but it's been confirmed the PSV Eindhoven winger was pretty close to signing for another side.

Speaking with Omroep Brabant (h/t Sam Lee of Goal) Marcel Brands, who is sporting director at the Eredivisie side, revealed that French juggernauts Paris Saint-Germain seemed like the Dutchman’s most likely destination only 48 hours ago:

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PSG were already very serious for Memphis before the winter break. We had reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain and I'd have said he would be joining PSG had you asked me about his next destination two days ago.

Only in the last 48 hours did Manchester United step up their interest and things went very fast from there on. In the end, the player decides where he wants to go and he wanted Manchester.

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Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press

The Red Devils confirmed the signing of the 21-year-old on their official website, and the player himself took to social media to express his excitement at joining the Old Trafford club:

The winger is certainly a player that will have Red Devils supporters across the globe excited. He’s enthralling to watch, boasting searing pace, an array of trickery and, as his 24 goals in all competitions this season illustrate, per WhoScored.com, a keen eye for goal too.

WhoScored.com took a closer look at his best and worst attributes:

While United remain a long way off the summit of European football, the fact that Depay decided to make the move to Manchester at such short notice is emblematic of the gravitas the club still command.

PSG would have surely offered more lucrative terms to the winger, but as noted in Lee’s piece, Depay told SEG the move was not based on money, rather a “feeling” he had.

That’ll ultimately be to United’s benefit, as the Oranje starlet looks a major coup. Granted, he’s still a little raw and may not be ready to light up the Premier League immediately, but under the astute tutelage of Louis van Gaal, the Red Devils could have a world-class player in the making.

Nani Hints At United Return

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

The acquisition of Depay will leave plenty of United’s current players a little concerned about their own standing in the squad. But Nani, who is currently on loan with Sporting Club from Old Trafford, has hinted he wants to return to Old Trafford, per A Bola (Matt Maltby of the Mail Online):

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The fans asked me to stay but we all know it’s hard. I have a contract with Manchester United and my ambitions are different this time.

I am very happy to have spent a year at Sporting. It was a great time, helping Sporting where I could and finish in the top three. The rest we’ll see.

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Alex Livesey/Getty Images

There are few United supporters who would be majorly disappointed if the Portuguese international didn’t return. Although his natural talent is beyond dispute, so many times Nani has flattered to deceive at Old Trafford. Given the attacking options Van Gaal is likely to have in his squad, it’s tough to see where he is going to fit in.

However, as we can see here courtesy of BT Sport (h/t Portuguese football expert Jan Hagen), Nani has enjoyed some superb moments on loan with Sporting:

This season, he’s looked like a player enjoying his football, and while Nani will be reluctant to give up on his United career, it’s perilously difficult to see how he’s going to force his way back into contention.

If Sporting want him to stay and can strike a permanent deal, the Portuguese winger would be foolish not to consider it very seriously.