Manchester United Transfer News: Memphis Depay Discussed by Dick Advocaat

Memphis Depay should leave Manchester United if he continues to be overlooked for first-team selection, according to Fenerbahce manager Dick Advocaat, as per David McDonnell of the Mirror.

The 22-year-old former PSV Eindhoven winger has had a difficult start to life under manager Jose Mourinho, playing just 20 minutes of Premier League football across four substitute appearances this season, as per WhoScored.com.

Advocaat gave the Dutchman, signed for United by Louis van Gaal for £25 million in June 2015, his full debut at PSV in December 2012. Speaking ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash between United and Fenerbahce, Memphis' former boss stated his belief that regular playing time is crucial at his age and that a transfer may be necessary should things fail to improve.

Advocaat said, per McDonnell:

"

The potential is there for him to be a good player. You cannot lose that, he has the quality to be a top player. 

But the problem for him is that there are so many quality players in that squad, so for himself it's important to start playing regularly at the age he's at. 

Otherwise, the way I think is that maybe he has to find another solution [club], because he's too good to sit on the bench.

"

Dave Thompson/Associated Press

Memphis has featured in seven matches altogether but has only started once this season, in an EFL Cup clash against Northampton Town in September. The latest blow to his United career came when he was left out of the Europa League squad for the trip to Istanbul, as per McDonnell.

Mourinho’s United have struggled for form domestically, picking up just 15 points from their first 10 matches, but with Henrikh Mkhitaryan also vying for a place in the starting XI, Memphis' chances of breaking into the team appear slim. The Armenian has been included in the Europa League squad for Thursday's game.

As per Neil Custis of the Sun, Memphis may be moving on as soon as January, with Mourinho apparently ready to listen to offers.  

All the signs are suggesting the Dutchman is on his way out, as Simon Peach, chief football writer of the Press Association, remarked on Twitter:

Advocaat was keen to point out he still admires Memphis, but he appeared to be publicly advising the Dutch winger to seek a transfer.

"I still believe in him," the former Sunderland boss said, per McDonnell. "He has the right mentality and the right character to play for United, but there are so many options there. Regular playing time [elsewhere would] help his progression."

Memphis made 29 league appearances for United in 2015-16 but failed to make a positive impact, scoring two goals and providing no assists. Given he was already struggling to adapt to the English game, Mourinho’s apparent disinterest in exposing him to first-team football suggests the winger's United career may be over.

Meanwhile, Advocaat revealed that Robin van Persie is fit to play against his former club after an injury scare against Kardemir Karabukspor on Sunday saw him substituted early.

Dave Thompson/Associated Press

"He was not injured," the Fener boss said, as per James Dale for Sky Sports. "I just saved him. It was 5-0 at that time."

Van Persie’s reunion with United is a stark example of how quickly an exciting player can fall out of favour at Old Trafford. Memphis' career at the club may be over, but at such a young age, he has plenty of time to make his name elsewhere.