Manchester United have listened to Ralf Rangnick comments with Frenkie de Jong transfer

If Manchester United's pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has taught fans anything, it's that the idea of completing a transfer deal is not as easy as many people think it is.

You have to go back to the second week of May for when United first made contact with Barcelona about the prospect of signing the Netherlands international. It is not until now — right at the very end of June — that the deal has taken its biggest step towards being completed.

It has been a long-drawn-out process to get to this stage, where a fee of €65million (£56.14m) has been agreed, but United, to their credit, have refused to throw the towel in. They are now on the cusp of signing manager Erik ten Hag's top transfer target.

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There were times where some United fans were running out of patience and wanted the club to consider alternative targets, as it seemed like talks with Barcelona were holding up the prospects of getting other new signings through the door.

United, though, stuck to their guns, refusing to walk away from the prospect of getting De Jong. If anything, the longer this process has dragged on, the more you felt it was a matter of 'when' rather than 'if' United would reach a breakthrough.

It will be a statement signing and United deserve credit for luring the Dutchman to Old Trafford, even if their hopes ultimately have been helped by Barcelona's troublesome financial situation.

When United first registered their interest in De Jong last month, not many thought it would be a deal that would be possible. However, United's determination to give Ten Hag what he wants and needs has shone through. He might not necessarily be the type of