Memphis Depay 'to decide future next week amid Manchester United links'

The 28-year-old was in action for Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, featuring on five occasions at the competition, scoring once, as the European nation reached the quarter-finals of the competition.

The forward is now preparing to return to his club, with Xavi's side working towards the return of competitive action, which for them comes at home to Espanyol on December 31.

Memphis has only played three times for Barcelona this season, with the Dutchman spending a long period on the sidelines due to a thigh issue.

However, he proved his fitness during the World Cup, coming off the bench against Senegal and Ecuador before starting against Qatar, the USA and Argentina.

Memphis only has a contract at Camp Nou until next June, and Manchester United are believed to be considering re-signing their former player, with the Red Devils looking to sign a striker to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to Sport, the Dutchman will meet with Barcelona boss Xavi next week to discuss his future, but the club are keen to keep hold of him until the end of the season.

At one stage, it appeared that the Catalan outfit were willing to let him leave for free in January in order to remove his wages but that is allegedly no longer the case.

Barcelona sporting director Jordi Cruyff also recently suggested that the forward was not available in January regardless of his contract situation.

"In the end, for example, the situation of Memphis, who has been injured this season and has not been able to be present as much as he wanted and what the team wanted," Cruyff told Mundo Deportivo.

"It is also true that in the games prior to his injury he was playing as a starter and with some pretty nice goals. This thinking every week that you're as good as the last game doesn't make sense. In the end we also have to think about (Robert) Lewandowski being suspended three games today.

"The equations are made, not by Memphis but by anyone, that if a Barça player leaves to bring another you can consider it. But if that's not going to give you the 'fair play' either, then why do it? It makes no sense.

"Now, going back to Memphis, saying that he has always had an impeccable attitude at the level of effort and Xavi will be the first to say it.

"He always says that he is a player who doesn't cause problems, who always makes an effort to the maximum and when he has had to be there, he has been there and has responded.

"So, today we are not thinking about the exits but about having a competitive team for the second round, with the same line of the first round and Memphis, if he recovers from his injury, and is showing it in the national team, he is a player who can help a lot to any club in which he is."

Memphis has scored 14 goals and registered two assists in 41 appearances for Barcelona since arriving at the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2021.