Is Lyon’s Memphis Depay a viable option up front for Tottenham?

Lyon’s Memphis Depay is reportedly on Tottenham’s watchlist, so would the Dutchman fit in and make a suitable impact in north London? 

The ex-Manchester United man has enjoyed a fantastic start to the 2019-20 campaign. Bagging seven goals in 10 Ligue 1 appearances and four in four Champions League matches, the 25-year-old has found the kind of form he never achieved at Old Trafford.

He is, however, playing against far inferior teams in France, the importance of which cannot be understated. Those easier Ligue 1 contests allow the Dutchman to conserve energy for the Champions League, a perfect situation for him to be at his best in Europe. In his last spell in England, Depay scored just two goals in 33 United appearances.

The report of Tottenham’s interest comes from the Mirror, a somewhat sensationalist outlet. So take Spurs’ supposed interest with a grain of salt. If you believe the reports, Tottenham are considering a £50 million bid for the front man.

But we’ve been down this road before. And frankly, it doesn’t quite add up. Depay was entirely ineffective in the Premier League, a ghost-like presence. Of course he was more inexperienced and younger at that stage of his career. But is his stark improvement down to his progression and development as a maturing professional, or because he’s playing consistently against significantly weaker opponents?

Unfortunately I think it’s more a case of the latter.

Additionally, is Depay the type of player who will be happy playing second fiddle to Harry Kane? Probably not. That means Depay would be forced out of position, and we all know how miserable an experiment that was at Old Trafford.

Could he come back to England and take the Premier League by storm, competing for Kane’s role as Spurs’ sole front man? Anything is possible.

But judging all factors at play doesn’t bode well for that unlikely outcome. He’s thriving at Lyon so why would the French side give him up for £50 million? It’s another question we might not like the answer to.

So will Tottenham make a £50 million bid for Depay? Maybe.

But will Lyon accept the offer and send their marquee player, of whom their Champions League success is predicated on, to Spurs?

I think not.

And is he the answer Tottenham have been searching for? Unfortunately it’s not that easy, as the  issues enveloping Tottenham are entirely more complex.