It’s the saga that has dominated much of Erik ten Hag’s early tenure at Manchester United, which has seen their window get off to a frustrating start.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong was quickly identified as the man to build Ten Hag’s ambitious overhaul around, with the pair working to great effect at Ajax. But the LaLiga giants - despite their perilous financial position - have played hardball in negotiations, determined to get what they believe is the right remuneration for the player.
But after weeks of wrangling, an agreement is now set to be very close, with Sky Sports suggesting a “broad agreement” of around £56million-plus bonuses has now been reached. Talks between the two clubs will now move to the finer details, before switching to negotiating with the player himself.
There is confidence that shouldn’t take too much work, with the Dutchman open to reuniting with his compatriot at Old Trafford. However, in a public sense at least, the 25-year-old has been adamant he is happy to stay in Catalunya, just three years on from his arrival.
“You’re always flattered when teams show interest in you as a player but I am at the biggest club in the world at the moment and I feel fine there, so no news,” he said whilst on international duty.
And that stance has been backed by his old Camp Nou boss Ronald Koeman who has set alarm bells ringing in Manchester, with the revelation that his old charge is hoping to stay with the Blaugrana.
"The only thing I know is that Frenkie wants to continue at Barca," the ex-Holland manager declared,” Koeman told radio station Esport 3. "A couple of days ago he told me he wanted to continue.
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“What I don't know is if Barca wants to sell him or needs money because he is one of the few players for whom they can get a good amount. For me, De Jong is a great player for Barca."
And while a deal will likely get done and De Jong will indeed become Ten Hag’s first signing, there will be a creeping sense of deja vu for United fans of a pessimistic persuasion - with similarities to one of their most high-profile transfer flops of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
When Angel Di Maria signed in the summer of 2014, he was supposed to be the centre-piece of Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils team. Fresh off winning the Champions League with Real Madrid and reaching the World Cup final with Argentina, the winger was one of the most sought after players in world football.
However, just days after being given the iconic No.7 shirt at United, Di Maria made it clear that it was never his desire to leave the Bernabeu. In an open letter to Real fans, he said: “Unfortunately, I have to go but I want to make clear that this was never my desire.
“I went to the World Cup with the hope of receiving a gesture from the board, which never arrived. Many things and many lies were told. Someone may not like me. The only thing I asked for was something fair.”
He hoped to enjoy similar successes to his new side in Manchester, but it became quickly apparent that wouldn’t be the case. And after one disastrous season, United cut their losses and sold the Argentine to Paris Saint-Germain for a £15m loss.
"My intention was always to stay at Madrid. I don't really know what happened on the inside of the deal - these are things that representatives deal with. It happens in football,” he said after sealing his United exit.
United will be praying that the presence of Ten Hag will help to alleviate any erase any of those concerns for De Jong - but until that happens, there will be a chance that a sour part of the club’s recent history could yet repeat itself.
