Gary Neville hails Memphis Depay signing as Manchester United needed a winger

Gary Neville has hailed the signing of Memphis Depay for Manchester United as he believes Louis van Gaal's side really needed to strengthen the attacking flanks.

The Premier League giants confirmed the 21-year-old winger as the first signing of the summer after they agreed to pay PSV Eindhoven around €30m (£22m, $34m) to secure his services.

With a reputation throughout his long managerial career for using wide players like Arjen Robben, Van Gaal decided to break the cash last summer to bring Angel di Maria to Old Trafford for a club record £63.5m ($99m).

But the former Real Madrid star has struggled to make the impact expected during his debut campaign at Old Trafford, with Ashley Young surprisingly fulfilling his role in the wing.

And Neville believes that Depay will add extra pace and goals to the team.

"They do need strength in that area. So what United are buying is potential, obviously someone who has scored goals in the Dutch league, but looking at some of the clips, I think Dutch skilled wingers for me are by far the best at understanding their position," the United legend said to Sky Sports.

"In terms of his pace, his touch, his ability to score goals, his good movement... it is all about whether he can settle down in Manchester."

Nevertheless the former United right-back has warned that the starlet will need some time to replicate his form at the Eredivisie this season, where he has scored 22 goals in 29 games.

"He'll need some time and can transfer that ability he has shown for PSV into Manchester United. It is a completely different field. He's got a lot of different facets to his game, he's got a lot of different things in his armour," Neville added.

"For me I am excited as a United fan in the sense that he is a wing player. For me, Manchester United should play with wing players.

"Wingers who beat people, players who take people on, who put crosses in the box, who score goals, and he is exciting. In wide areas this season it has been a bit of a struggle at times."