With not a lot of options available, Memphis Depay is looking like a more attractive signing with each passing day for Manchester United.
United have maintained for months now that vast sums will not be splashed around again in the upcoming transfer window following the massive outlay a few months and that they want to begin their hunt for a new star striker in the summer. However, Cristiano Ronaldo's dramatic departure has thrown a monkey wrench into those ideals.
Erik ten Hag now only has Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford as central striking options and while both have looked great this season that's a paltry arsenal to be competing on four different fronts with. The race for top four is already looking tight and United run the risk of finishing outside it if they don't enhance their firepower in the new year.
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If United don't have Champions League football to offer then they have even less of a chance of signing a top-draw striker - such as Victor Osimhen - in the summer anyway. But, in fairness, January is not an easy market to operate in.
Prices are inflated and many players - like Osimhen or Goncalo Ramos - are unlikely to want to move midway through a season when their clubs are doing so well domestically and in Europe. With Liverpool already swooping in for another attainable forward - though not the striker United need - in Cody Gakpo, United will have to get creative.
That's where Memphis comes in. Though his initial spell at Old Trafford didn't go to plan, it was a long, long time ago now and the Dutchman has matured into a reliable, skilful and clinical forward in the years since. Memphis bagged 76 goals and 55 assists in 178 appearances at Lyon and has managed 14 goals since moving to Barcelona despite never nailing his place in the side.
The Catalonian's frayed financial situation means Memphis could be forced out of the door in January and a loan move could suit all parties. United get their stopgap, Barca free up wages and Memphis has a shot at redemption.
What would make him especially useful to Ten Hag is his versatility. Memphis can play anywhere across the attack which would make United much more flexible and resilient to injury. Here are five ways the manager could utilise his compatriot if he was signed.
Striker
The most pressing need for Memphis would be to play up front. It's the position he has been playing with the most regularity in recent years and to great effect.
Martial has done well this season with five goals and two assists in nine appearances but history says he's unlikely to stay fit for the whole season. Should injury strike again, Memphis can be on hand to take his place and he has proven to be a reliable source of goals.
Second striker
Bruno Fernandes has returned to his best this season and a good showing at the World Cup appears to have buoyed him even further. He is making crucial contributions going forward as well as setting the tempo with some committed challenges - he is a guaranteed starter.
But United haven't got a lot of options should he get injured. Christian Eriksen could move forward but then you break up the partnership with Casemiro and Donny van de Beek is not at it. Instead, Memphis could be called upon to take Fernandes' place with his technical proficiency on the ball making him a canny operator in the hole.
Left-wing
Memphis has long since converted to a striker but he is still more than capable of playing on the left and was still amongst the goals while playing there for Lyon before moving to the middle.
It would be good for Ten Hag to have an extra body capable of doing so but something drastic would have had to have gone wrong for Memphis to be deployed there given they already have Rashford, Martial, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho.
Front two
Memphis' great link-up play means he has often been partnered with another striker to form an attacking duo. While Ten Hag appears unlikely to use one at United he did in certain games at Ajax so it isn't out of his wheelhouse.
Should United ever line up in a 3-5-2 formation then Memphis would be a good candidate to partner Rashford or Martial. He played in that formation - alongside Gakpo - during the World Cup and looked sharp.
Right-wing
Of all the attacking positions, Memphis has played on the right flank the least, only a handful of times, but he still could be used there if either Rashford or Antony were unavailable as he's definitely a better choice than Anthony Elanga.
With him being as versatile as United's other attackers it's not as though he would have to stay there, anyway, and his addition could make for a fluid and exciting forward line.
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