One of the headlining transfer sagas of the summer is likely to be the movement of mesmerising PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands winger, Memphis Depay. With big clubs like Manchester United already expressing reported interest, which would see the Dutchman reunite with his former National Team coach Louis van Gaal, it seems the 21-year-old is soon to be the hottest property in Europe. The transfer speculation isn’t unwarranted either, as Depay has been in scintillating form for his club side this season, netting 20 league goals so far in 27 league appearances, leading the Eredivisie scoring charts.
Yet it is the age-old curse for fans of Dutch football, the lure and bright lights of the Premier League which are too enticing for young Dutch prospects to turn down, with it being widely speculated that Depay will be added to that long list of Dutch Exports. However, not all are successful in the ‘big leagues’, as his PSV counterpart Luuk De Jong can vouch for. Following a prosperous spell in front of goal at FC Twente between 2009-2012, De Jong opted for a move to German club Borussia Monchengladbach, where he endured a 2-year-stay scoring on only six occasions. This included an infamous loan move to Newcastle United in an attempt to revitalise his career, where 12 appearances for The Magpies yielded zero goals. Nevertheless, De Jong has since rejuvenated his career this season at PSV alongside Depay, just a single goal behind the illustrious winger with 19 strikes for the Philips Stadion club.
It isn’t certain that Memphis Depay will depart PSV in search of more silverware on English shores this summer after winning his first Eredivisie title, but it would continue a pattern trail-blazed by plenty of his countrymen before him, following in the footsteps of Messrs van Nistelrooy and Bergkamp in years gone by, or Daley Blind in more recent times, switching Ajax for Old Trafford following last summer’s World Cup exploits which saw the Netherlands reach the semi-finals, a squad which Depay was a member of.
While some Dutchmen falter in the Premier League, some prosper; becoming club legends in the process. Names such as the aforementioned Dutch forwards vouch for this; and with Depay’s playing style of direct running, audacious strikes, free-kick specialist and exuding confidence in possession, all signs point to Premier League stardom for the pacey winger.
It is without question that the step-up in quality from Eredivisie to Premier League will be no easy task for any player, as some of the worlds most renowned players already excite audiences with their performances in what many like to call ‘The Best League in the World’. The addition of Depay would add further entertainment value to a competition already brimming with exceedingly impressive talent.
It begs the question: what then happens to the Eredivisie, as year-on-year its stars and breakthrough players are plucked from their clubs and exported to foreign leagues? Newcastle United harvested the best that Feyenoord and Ajax could offer last summer, by acquiring the services of Daryl Janmaat and Siem De Jong respectively. The case is similar with Tottenham Hotspur in the last few years or so; they took Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen from the Amsterdam Arena, both of whom became stars and consistent performers at the London club. Nevertheless, the Eredivisie does not seem to be short of exciting young talent despite the annual exodus of its top performers, as it is constantly churning out lucrative youngsters that go on to play key roles in the national team. Overall, the future is bright for the Eredivisie with the likes of Jordy Clasie, Terence Kongolo and Ricardo Kishna still plying their trades in the Netherlands, but for how long?
No doubt, there will be other European giants battling for Depay’s signature in the upcoming transfer window, with a number of clubs already battling it out by making enquiries. The current favourites Manchester United, will want their fans to see Depay turning out in front of the Stretford End, as will most other Premier League enthusiasts and lovers of exciting football.
They’ will have to wait and see what the future holds.
