West Ham reportedly have an interest in Netherlands forward Memphis Depay this summer, who is available on a free transfer this summer after departing Atletico Madrid.

This would be a very smart signing for the Hammers, who are looking for someone to fill the role on the left side of the attack. At the end of the season, David Moyes moved Mohammed Kudus over the left side to solve the problem, while he impressed there, the Ghanaian does his best work on the right or centrally.

Memphis, who is also able to play as a central striker, would be a brilliant option for Lopetegui on the left side. The Spaniard likes the majority of his chance creation to come from the fullbacks, therefore they push high and wide up the pitch. This means the ‘wide’ players often come inside, which is where the Dutchman could thrive.

The former Manchester United forward can dribble and move like a winger, as well as finish like a striker. Despite his small frame, standing at 5’8. He is very good at heading; he often finds space in the box to get a headed attempt away. Something that would impress Lopetegui, as if all goes right both wingers in Depay and Bowen will be spending a lot of time in the box, and with both able to use their head and feet to a great level, there will be plenty of ways for the Hammers to find the back of the net.

As well as his heading ability, Depay’s ability with his feet is something almost every football fan knows about. His ball control, his ability to beat defenders, and his speed make him very hard to deal with. He is brilliant at keeping the ball in tight spaces, which will help in the possession-dominant side Lopetegui hopes to build in East London.

However, Lopetegui also spoke of his happiness to adapt to a more counter-attacking style if needed, another style of play Memphis Depay is able to thrive in. While he has always played for teams that often dominate possession in PSV, Manchester United, Lyon, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid. Depay has always shown quality on the counter due to his speed, dribbling, and ability to pick out a pass.

Depay is a very good finisher; his shooting techniques are a key component of his playing style. His ability to score goals from various positions and angles is a result of his precision and power. Whether he’s unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box or calmly placing the ball into the corner of the net, Depay’s shooting prowess is a constant threat to opposing teams. He is also a threat from freekicks. He has scored plenty of goals from dead balls in his career. He has the ability to place the ball into the top corner of the net, away from the reach of the goalkeeper.

One of the most impressive things about Depay is his ability to adapt in different leagues. He has shone in Ligue 1, Eredivisie, the Champions League, and the Europa League. He showed his talent in flashes in La Liga but was never given consistent game time. Depay would be eager to prove his worth in the Premier League after a disappointing spell at Manchester United when he was very young and inexperienced.

Despite all these positives, there would be some drawbacks in the signing of Memphis Depay. While he is far from the end of his career at 30 years old, however, the club could be reluctant to give him a long-term contract on the money he could demand. He would very likely be very near the top of West Ham’s wages list on over £100k a week. The club could be reluctant to make a move after seeing what happened with the signing of Danny Ings. The Hammers are finding it hard to shift the former England International due to his huge wages.

However, if the club were able to sign the Dutchman on a 1-year contract it would definitely be worth the risk, as an in-form Depay could help take this West Ham side to the next level under Lopetegui. He could also be a massive fans favourite in East London, with his reputation, trickery, and style giving him all of the tools.