Reports in Spain suggest Manchester United are lining up a shock bid for Memphis Depay as Barcelona look to offload the Dutchman. The former Red Devils forward has only spent one season in Catalonia but he is already being pushed towards the door as Barca look to balance the books and make room in their squad.

Juventus have been extensive discussions over a deal but the Old Lady are yet to strike an agreement to sign the 28-year-old. Now MARCA in Spain claim United could enter the fray as they sniff out an unlikely transfer opportunity.

The report claims United could bid around £8.5million for the attacker in what would represent a very left-field move. Depay, of course, spent two seasons at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho before joining Lyon on a permanent deal.

His stock has since sky-rocketed with Depay now expected to be Holland’s main man in attack at the World Cup in Qatar. Yet still, it’s highly unlikely that he will make the grade at Barcelona with Xavi keen to move the player on.

Speaking to Canal+ during his time at Lyon, Depay declared he’d matured as a person since his United days, stating: “I know how it works in football. I’m the one who gets all the punches. ‘Memphis is crazy’, ‘Memphis does this…’. I cannot be anyone else but Memphis.

“I tried that, and I was not happy with myself. Back in Manchester, I was not happy with myself. How can I be a great football player when you’re not happy with yourself? I looked in the mirror and I was not happy, I was sad.