Liverpool Transfer News: Brendan Rodgers Details Failure to Sign Memphis Depay

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed the Reds were in discussions with PSV and Memphis Depay during the summer, before the Dutch youngster ultimately opted to join rivals Manchester United.  

Rodgers, who was sacked by Liverpool on Saturday after a string of poor results, always maintained he wasn't interested in the Dutch international.

During a recent interview with Voetbal International (h/t the Daily Express' James Dickenson), however, he admitted he had talks with Memphis but ultimately decided against signing him as he wasn't what the Reds were looking for: “PSV had given us permission to have conversations with him. Apart from a huge talent, he came across as a good boy to me, but Liverpool were looking for a central striker and Memphis, until then, had primarily played as a left winger.”

Jon Super/Associated Press

Dickenson shared some of the comments Rodgers made at the time, pointing to the wealth of young talent he had available out on the wing in Raheem Sterling, Lazar Markovic, Adam Lallana and Jordon Ibe. Sterling has since left the club for Manchester City, while Markovic moved to Fenerbahce on loan.

Memphis joined his compatriot Louis van Gaal in Manchester after a sensational season with Dutch champions PSV, in which he scored 22 goals in 30 Eredivisie starts, per WhoScored.com. He flashed his incredible potential during the two meetings with Belgian minnows Club Brugge, but he has since struggled to adapt to the pace and the physicality of English football.

As reported by the Guardian's Martin Laurence, more was expected from the talented Dutchman:

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While Wayne Rooney has taken much of the criticism targeted at Manchester United players this season, the England captain hasn’t been the club’s only disappointing player. In fact, summer signing Memphis Depay has the lowest rating of any United player to have started more than two matches (6.62). The Holland international has started every league game since his arrival from PSV, though it’s telling that he has completed 90 minutes just three times and has been withdrawn at half-time in crucial matches against Liverpool and Arsenal.

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Memphis has already admitted he's struggling to adapt to the English game, telling De Telegraaf (h/t Independent's James Orr) his body has to get used to playing two matches per week on a regular basis.

Despite his early struggles, fans shouldn't forget Memphis is still just 21 years old, and based on what he has already accomplished during his short career, he has the look of a future superstar.

As reported by Mundo Deportivo (h/t Dutch Football), he rightly made the Ballon d'Or shortlist for his spectacular 2014-15 campaign, where he played a pivotal role in PSV's run to the Dutch title.

United paid £25 million for his services, per Dickenson, and there's every reason to believe he'll continue developing and live up to the lofty price tag before long. If that's the case, fans may―and probably should―ask questions about Rodgers' decision not to sign him when he had the chance.

It probably won't be the only question fans will have for the Northern Irishman, who failed to build on the club's remarkable run in the 2013-14 campaign and had the Reds toiling in mediocrity when he was let go earlier this season. As shared by PA Sport (via ESPN FC), his Liverpool record doesn't look particularly impressive:

Rodgers leaves behind the memories of the 2013-14 season, which saw the Reds contend for the Premier League title until the very end, but he also moves on from a squad in turmoil, having spent big amounts of money on a number of players who haven't lived up to the expectations in the last two seasons.

The new manager will have to work with a limited squad that has already conceded 10 goals in eight Premier League matches, per WhoScored.com. Defensively, there are a ton of question marks, and outside of the young and unproven Ibe, there isn't much talent capable of making an immediate impact out wide.

Memphis would have been the perfect solution to the latter problem, although he always seemed likely to join United, given the presence of Van Gaal.

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