Wednesday 4 January 2017 18:47, UK
Nice president Jean Pierre Rivere has ruled out making a move for Memphis Depay during the January transfer window after admitting the Manchester United winger is out of his club's "financial reach".
The Netherlands international is currently out of favour under manager Jose Mourinho and is expected to leave United after just 18 months at Old Trafford.
Everton manager Ronald Koeman has already expressed his desire to bring Depay to Goodison Park this month as he looks to bolster his attacking options with winger Yannick Bolasie facing a long spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Rivere has revealed he was also keen on a deal to sign Depay, but says he was forced to scrap a swoop for the 22-year-old due to budget concerns.
"We looked at him, like a lot of clubs have, but it is extremely complicated… It is a situation which is out of our financial reach," Rivere told French radio station RMC.
"You have a club that bought him for a certain amount that wants to sell him. When we looked at Depay, it was in another way, which is not possible today.
"He was bought very expensively by Manchester United, they want to possibly sell him and we cannot compete in this sort of situation."
Depay, who was signed from PSV Eindhoven for £25m by his compatriot and former United boss Louis van Gaal in June 2015, has not featured in the Premier League since October 29.
