It is now 67 days since the Manchester Evening News revealed that Manchester United had made initial contact with Barcelona about the availably of midfielder Frenkie de Jong.
Erik ten Hag, who has overseen two victories from his first pre-season two matches in charge as United manager, had identified the Netherlands international as one of his top targets to strengthen his midfield options. More than two months on, the former Ajax manager is still yet to be reunited with one of his former sons.
United, as reported by the Manchester Evening News at the end of last month, have reached an agreement in principle with Barcelona to sign De Jong for £56.14million. However, the deal is being held up at the Barcelona end because of £17million in deferred wages that the Dutchman is owed. United are not to blame for the hold up.
READ MORE: Manchester United have to meet a new transfer deadline for their midfield
But although not United's fault, frustration levels around the club are mounting, not least for Ten Hag. Making contact with Barcelona in early-May, you would have thought United would have enough time to get De Jong through the door and prepared to board the plane for their pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.
But more than a week into their first pre-season tour in three years, United are still yet to make the breakthrough they are longing for. They are desperate to secure De Jong's signature, but how long can the club afford to wait?
Considering they have gone this far and are still refusing to throw the towel in, there is still an expectation that a deal will be completed eventually, even if it is impossible to predict when.
Despite the frustrations and levels of impatience that are beginning to creep through, the De Jong saga has already played into the hands of two United midfielders, with a third still in with a chance of capitalising on one of the longest transfer sagas the club has ever found itself at the centre of. Youngsters Charlie Savage and Zidane Iqbal have been two of United's star performers in their opening two pre-season games, each producing polished and eye-catching displays in their second-half appearances against Liverpool and Melbourne Victory.
Ten Hag, in a bid to analyse each member of his squad as closely as possible, has made 10 changes at half-time in each of United's opening two pre-season outings, meaning Savage and Iqbal have worked in tandem after each interval. Savage, the son of former United and Wales midfielder Robbie, has slotted into the double pivot Ten Hag has so far deployed, displaying a wide-range of passes and an ability to keep things neat and tidy, while also showing a defensive side to his game.
Iqbal, naturally more attacking than Savage, has also been excellent, threatening to become one of the breakout stars of the tour. He was excellent in the second-half against Victory on Friday, driving forward with the ball at his feet and displaying no shortage of confidence, as well as a swagger. One moment of skill left United supporters in awe of his potential.
The pair have deserved all the plaudits they are getting. They have benefited from Ten Hag's reduced number of options in the deep midfield positions, with only Scott McTominay and Fred — who have started both games so far — ahead of them in the pecking order.
And Ten Hag still has another option that could throw his name into the ring and make the most of a limited number of options in James Garner. Another youngster with enormous amount of potential, the former Nottingham Forest loanee is yet to be seen on the tour so far, playing no part in the wins over Liverpool and Victory due to a knock.
But with a further four pre-season matches left in United's calendar, Garner's opportunity will come, perhaps as soon as Tuesday's meeting with Crystal Palace, if he's passed fit. Ten Hag, as proven by the minutes earned by the likes of Ethan Laird, Tahith Chong, Amad, Savage and Iqbal so far, is planning to give youngsters opportunities to impress.
Both Savage and Iqbal are already in stronger positions than they were a week ago, benefiting from a lack of midfield options, but Garner could follow in the same vein and soon store some minutes stored under his belt. United still need a world-class presence in midfield, but the De Jong delay is not doing as much harm as many thought it could do.
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
READ NEXT:
