Arsenal could make a move to sign Memphis Depay, according to Le10 Sport.
Mikel Arteta is said to have identified Depay as the ideal replacement for Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, should either of the pair leave Arsenal.
Depay has seriously impressed in France with Lyon, where he has been a prolific scorer.
The Arsenal boss is said to be a big fan of both his technical ability and his ‘personality’.
Depay’s contract is due to expire at the end of next season, which apparently puts Arsenal in a ‘strong’ position to sign him.
Depay’s last experience in England was not a positive one, when he was with Manchester United as a youngster.
However, Jose Mourinho, who was in charge of United at the time, has still talked up the 26-year-old’s ability.
“I think it’s difficult for me to answer [why he struggled] because he didn’t work also last season,” Mourinho said to the Manchester Evening News back in 2018.
“But from my perspective instead of say, or try to say, why it didn’t work I think it’s easier for me and he deserves me to say that. He was a fantastic professional, so if somebody thinks it didn’t work because he was not a great professional it is totally wrong.
“One thing is some picture that somebody takes of him in an amazing car or dressing in a very specific way, but the image is totally wrong.
“The guy is a fantastic professional, he’s a kid that respected everyone, a kid that worked hard, who tried to work to have more chances, a kid that was frustrated because he was not having that, but I only have good things to say about him.”
The good news for Arsenal is that Depay’s past experience has apparently not put him off the Premier League.
Indeed, the Dutch international is now said to find the idea of a return to England appealing.
Arsenal would have to pay £27 million to sign Depay, according to Calcio Mercato’s report about Lyon’s price-tag from two weeks ago.
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