Manchester United Transfer News: Memphis Depay Price Named Amid Lyon Rumours

Manchester United have reportedly placed a £15 million price tag on Memphis Depay for clubs looking to buy him in January. 

According to French outlet RMC Sport (h/t Kevin Palmer of the Irish Independent), Olympique Lyonnais are holding talks with the Red Devils over a deal for the Dutchman and the Ligue 1 club has revealed United are prepared to make a £10 million loss on the player they signed in the summer of 2015.

United manager Jose Mourinho has previously stated he will not consider a loan deal, as shared by Sky Sports News HQ:

Hesham Bilal-Hafiz of the Manchester Evening News believes such a decision is telling:

According to Palmer, though, the Special One did give the forward a glimmer of hope if he stays put this winter:

"

If he is staying, I would be more than happy because he is a fantastic guy and a very good player. I feel so sorry that I am not giving him opportunities to play. A player of his age needs to be playing matches.

If he stays with me, for sure, he will play some games because we have so many matches.

"

The 22-year-old arrived ahead of last season on the back of firing PSV Eindhoven to the Eredivisie title in a sensational campaign that saw him rack up 28 goals and eight assists in all competitions.

Memphis struggled to replicate that form consistently as United laboured under Louis van Gaal last year, and the Netherlands international finished his debut season with seven goals and assists apiece from 48 appearances in all competitions.

The forward has failed to kick on since Mourinho's arrival in the summer, though, and he has played a total of 134 minutes under the Portuguese, largely restricted to brief cameo appearances.

United's desire to cut their losses is understandable given the direction his Old Trafford career has thus far headed, but as the Telegraph's James Ducker noted, they may need to rethink their strategy to offload him:

A loan move could help revitalise Memphis' career and, in doing so, make it easier for the Red Devils to ship him out permanently in the summer or give the player a route back into the squad as a viable option for Mourinho in the future.

The forward has potential, and his pace, trickery and eye for goal would be a real asset if he can rediscover the form he showed at PSV, but he needs to start showing that—although it seems he will have to do so elsewhere.