Liverpool open talks with Memphis Depay after winger flies down

Manchester United have been dealt a heavy blow in their pursuit of Memphis Depay after the PSV Eindoven star opened talks with Liverpool over a possible transfer, according to the Daily Mirror.

The report states that the Dutch winger travelled to the Manchester airport on 23 April, not to open talks with Manchester United, but with Liverpool, which created massive confusion in the ranks across Old Trafford.

Depay came with his advisers Kees Ploegsma and Kees Vos from top agency SEG International, who would initiate the transfer and also negotiate his wages with the club.

Liverpool had reportedly sent their top honchos to close a deal for the winger, including managing director Ian Ayre, who was in attendance to warm the player up to the Reds' proposition.

The player is reportedly extremely satisfied by the Merseyside club's determination to pursue him for over a year and Brendan Rodgers' vision going forward.

This will come as a major blow to Louis van Gaal, who had made Depay his prime target for the summer in a bid to strengthen his attack. The winger has already scored 23 goals in 34 appearances this season and has been a prime factor behind PSV's title charge this campaign.

The Dutch manager has a good relationship with the forward, having selected him for the World Cup in 2014, where he scored two important goals and was in the reckoning for the Fifa Player of the tournament award, eventually prised away by Paul Pogba.

Van Gaal is looking to invest heavily in the squad next season so as to bring United back to challenging for the title, having failed in two consecutive seasons thus far. The Red Devils are already looking at a bid for Mats Hummels to shore up their defence and are among the many teams keeping a tab on Ilkay Gundogan.