Frenkie de Jong stubbornness has given Manchester United a harsh reality check

It still feels like a matter of 'when' rather than 'if' Manchester United sign Frenkie de Jong this summer, but for transfer-hungry supporters, this lengthy wait is less than ideal.

United will be making a huge statement of intent should they manage to lure a Dutch international from Barcelona on the back of their worst ever Premier League campaign. Though they can't afford to let the prolonged pursuit distract them from the other issues which still need to be addressed.

An official announcement for De Jong would no doubt send social media into a meltdown, but before too long, attention will once again turn to United's long to-do list before the season starts.

READ MORE: Antony misses first day of Ajax pre-season training amid United transfer interest

United were criticised for their one-at-a-time transfer policy under Ed Woodward which, as the name suggests, saw them focus heavily on completing one deal before switching their attention to the next one.

The only real exception was for deals so straightforward to complete that they did not need meticulous planning. For example, on the final day of the window two years ago, when Edinson Cavani, Alex Telles, Amad and Facundo Pellistri were all lured to the club, not that there was much competition for any of them at the time.

United's predicament this summer is that they are trying to stamp their authority as a club that demands respect in the transfer market again and establish a new precedent that does not see them needlessly overpaying for players simply because of their global reputation.

Barcelona insist that United will need to offer a larger upfront fee if they are to get De Jong anytime soon, and while it might seem like a straightforward decision to pay it now