Manchester United Transfer News: Memphis Depay Warned by Louis Van Gaal

Manchester United new boy Memphis Depay has been warned by manager Louis van Gaal he could follow the paths of past flops Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao unless he bucks up his ideas at Old Trafford.

The £25 million summer signing sat on the bench for the duration of Saturday's 3-0 win at Everton, and Van Gaal suggested some players simply aren't able to adapt following transfers, per the Daily Star:

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Some players cannot adapt to the team philosophy. And you can't know that in advance of signing them. You have to see that. You see a lot of qualities in a player but he has to put that quality in service of the team.

That happened with Di Maria and Falcao - great players but you have to fit into the philosophy. You have to wait and see if that shall come or not. That applies to Memphis but also with every player that we have bought. 

He was a big signing but he's also a young player and the problem with young players is that they are not consistent. That you have to learn. We have to give him time for that but of course I still believe in him - why not?

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The report added that Red Devils legend Ryan Giggs has offered Depay advice following his big-money move from PSV in July, with questions also being raised regarding the youngster's attitude:

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Ryan was one of the best left-footed wingers in the history of Manchester United and also the world. Memphis is right-footed so he is slightly different but Ryan can give advice and has already done so. But the player is responsible for his own deeds.

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Saturday's resounding victory was the first game this season in which Depay has failed to feature, but it also happened to be one of the club's finest as Ander Herrera starred in a more advanced No. 10 role.

It's likely to raise debate as to just whether Depay will be able to earn his way back into Van Gaal's favoured XI, despite shining as one of the Dutchman's key stars for the Netherlands in last year's World Cup.

The win over Everton also resulted in Wayne Rooney ending his goal drought away from home, showing that perhaps the change in tactic has worked in squeezing the most out of Van Gaal's other weapons, too.

FourFourTwo's Elko Born understood the logic behind Van Gaal's decision and insisted Depay has time on his hands before the pressure is really on to hit expectations:

That's undoubtedly the key difference between he and the likes of Di Maria or Falcao, each of whom were brought to the Theatre of Dreams in what many perceived to be their playing primes, only to fall flat.

The Guardian's Daniel Harris was eager to push that point by outlining Depay's superb scoring record at this stage in his career, having earned comparisons to former United great Cristiano Ronaldo:

Another player out of favour with Van Gaal, Victor Valdes' nightmarish spell on the Old Trafford sidelines could be set to reach its close following reports Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren sees the Spaniard as a replacement for injured Tim Krul.

The Magpies were saddened to lose their Dutch No. 1 for the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and the Sunday People's Tom Hopkinson has reported Valdes is the club's favoured target.

It's a move that could pay dividends for the north-east outfit as Valdes has sat behind David De Gea and now Sergio Romero since moving to England, but he still has plenty to offer.

The goalkeeper's agent Gines Carvajal effectively confirmed his client will be moving on this winter after recently opening up on the prospect of a United exit, hinting he could remain in England, per the Daily Express:

"He'll have a chance [to play] in January, wherever he goes. He needs to go to a place he feels is right for him. He won't be coming to Spain, unless he decides otherwise."

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Having failed to even earn a squad number at Old Trafford this season, it appears Valdes holds no worth to Van Gaal, despite hopes initially being high that he would act as a sturdy reserve option.

McClaren is desperate to sign a replacement after telling Sky Sports just how big a miss Netherlands international Krul will be for his struggling side:

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It's a massive blow for us, you're talking about one of the best players in our team. He's a vital player, very important, and he'd get us 18 or 20 points a season with the way he plays. 

To lose that is devastating. We've had a couple of days to get over it, but for him, the shock of starting to get injured is starting to appear. In the last day or two, he's been a little bit down, but that's football and he'll recover. 

He'll get the best treatment and a good operation, and we wish him well with that. In the meantime, it's time for Rob Elliot to step forward and fill his boots. He needs to step up and perform.

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Elliot has made just 15 Premier League appearances during his four years at St James' Park and will hardly be seen as the long-term solution in goal for Newcastle.

The Telegraph's Adam Hurrey recently provided context of just how far Valdes' Manchester freeze-out has been taken, and it's unlikely United would be seeking much for his sale in the new year:

Yet despite his complete lack of playing time over the past 18 months, the 33-year-old remains a World Cup winner who clinched the Champions League on three occasions with Barcelona and six La Liga titles.

Newcastle would be willing to appease the Spanish veteran where the Red Devils would not, whether it be on a short-term deal or a more permanent solution.