Memphis Depay’s transfer to Manchester United has been confirmed by the club’s official Twitter account as the Red Devils has moved swiftly to wrap up the first deal of what is expected to be a busy summer for Barclays Premier League sides.
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Take a look at how the transfer of the PSV Eindhoven winger will affect the transfer window:
5) Radamel Falcao’s loan deal likely won’t be extended…
The Colombian has not been able to find his feet in the Barclays Premier League since joining on loan from AS Monaco last summer and with the arrival of Depay it would appear Falcao has no future at the club.
With the fee to sign the forward on a permanent deal reportedly around £40million, it is difficult to see van Gaal paying that price after signing Depay for around £25million.
4) Robin van Persie will be no more than a squad player if he remains at Old Trafford…
It’s ironic that a Dutchman could all but end van Persie’s career at the club.
If van Gaal persists with his favoured 4-3-3 formation next season and goes with a front line of Di Maria-Rooney-Depay then the former Arsenal man would be no more than a bit part player at the club should he decide to remain at Old Trafford in the summer.
3) Liverpool will struggle to attract big names…
Missing out on the signing of Depay will further illustrate just how difficult it will be for the Reds to attract players of his calibre to the club and if as expected they fail to qualify for Champions League football it is highly unlikely that Kop fans will see any big name arrivals.
It will also mark the second successive summer that the club has been beaten to a transfer target by one of their rivals after losing out to Arsenal for the signing of Alexis Sanchez last year.
2) Manchester United mean business and could look to wrap up deals early…
Signing Depay a month before the transfer window opens is certainly a smart strategy from manager Louis van Gaal and the club.
Getting players in early and having them gel in pre-season will be key to a successful campaign next year and it makes people wonder who will be arriving next, with the likes of Nathaniel Clyne, Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan all strongly tipped to sign for the Red Devils.
1) Gareth Bale to United looks unlikely…
With Depay expected to occupy the left hand side upon his arrival in the summer, it would appear to rule out a move for Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, who has been heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford at the end of the season.
This in turn will increase speculation on where the Welshman will end up if he does depart the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer with now only Chelsea and Manchester City in the running for his signature.