Memphis Depay joins Manchester United: Louis van Gaal 'forced' to move for PSV forward due to PSG interest

PSG looked favourites to sign the Netherlands forward only for United to secure a shock transfer

Memphis Depay impressed playing for Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands at last year’s World Cup (EPA)

Louis van Gaal made signing Memphis Depay an immediate priority after the Manchester United manager caught wind of Paris Saint-Germain's interest in the forward.

News broke on Thursday that PSV Eindhoven had agreed a fee with United that would see the 21-year-old complete a transfer to the Premier League when the transfer window reopens in June. Both PSG and Liverpool were also linked – though Brendan Rodgers has since said that the Reds were never in the hunt – but the news that United had completed the deal certainly came out of the blue.

Speaking for the first time since completing the deal, which is thought to be in the region of £22m, Van Gaal revealed his intentions behind the deal.

"I was forced to handle [the situation] as a manager because, otherwise, he was going to PSG, that's why I had to sign him and we've done it within one day,” Van Gaal told the club’s television channel MUTV.

“But, for us, it's better to focus on the game against [Crystal] Palace."

The former Netherlands manager led Depay at last year’s World Cup before he took over at Old Trafford, and he believes that his newest signings will provide much-needed goals at the club in a bid to challenge for the Premier League title next season.

Memphis Depay will join Manchester United for £25m (Getty Images)

"He's a goalscoring winger and there aren't so many of them in the world," Van added, with Depay having scored 21 goals in PSV’s triumphant Eredivisie campaign this season. "[Lionel] Messi is one of those but now I think we have to talk about the game against Crystal Palace and we have to focus on this and the coming three games. That's more important.”

The deal clearly signals that Untied are ready to do business once again, having spent over £150m last summer on the likes of Angel Di Maria, Luke Shaw and Radamel Falcao.

"I want to do this [make signings] early but it's not always possible," he added. "When there's a chance, to you have handle that and manage it directly and that was the case. I want to purchase players after our season and not during the season because it disturbs our concentration for the match."

The club are expected to follow up interest in Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels and Southampton right-back Nathaniel Clyne with official bids for the pair, with the England international expected to decide on his future by the end of next week as Chelsea have expressed an interest in him.