Erik ten Hag’s summer-long pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong: naive folly or a show of intent from a new Manchester United manager brave enough to do it his way? After a week on the club tour of Thailand and Australia observing the Dutchman, an impression forms of the latter, that Ten Hag is a steely eyed operator who knows precisely what is required to rebuild a squad that lagged 35 points behind Manchester City last season.
A naysayer might posit an argument concerning eggs and a solitary basket. That even if the repeated noises from the De Jong camp regarding his wish to stay at Barça are due to the £17m owed in deferred wages, the 25-year-old is hardly climbing the walls to join United, while his employers have named him in the squad for their summer tour. In refusing to be deterred Ten Hag could end up with all those eggs on his face.
