It seemed like Manchester United had a straight shot at signing Frenkie de Jong this summer. Then reports emerged suggesting Chelsea could also be interested in a deal if his proposed move to Old Trafford faced any unexpected hurdles.
United are still confident of completing a deal for the Dutchman after agreeing a transfer fee of €65million (£56.14m) plus add-ons with Barcelona for his signature, and in an ideal world, Erik ten Hag hopes to have him available for the start of the upcoming pre-season tour schedule.
Yet the reported presence of Chelsea raises a question about United's pursuit of their top summer target and whether or not he would actually want to join them if rival interest was aroused.
READ MORE: United make £37m offer for Lisandro Martinez
De Jong is understood to be more receptive to a move to United after being made aware that he is viewed as dispensable by Barcelona, and now he just wants to move to a club where he is loved and appreciated.
While dropping down to the Europa League is not ideal, he does at least know that Ten Hag is a manager he can trust and someone who is committed to building a team around his qualities.
Yet the 25-year-old can't join for a manager alone, and De Jong should be well aware of the risk attached to reuniting with a former mentor who is by no means guaranteed success at a club where patience often wears thin.
New signings always join big clubs with the belief success could be on the horizon, but De Jong needs to consider United's offer with caution and the real possibility that next season might be a struggle as the club adapts to its new era both on and off the pitch.
In a year's time, United might still be a way off the standards set by the best teams in the Premier League and could well still be without Champions League football. In the very worst scenario, Ten Hag might not even be in charge if his debut season is as disastrous as the one David Moyes oversaw in his maiden campaign.
In order to complete a deal, it is crucial that United convince De Jong of his importance to the side regardless of who is in charge, but primarily, they must ease those concerns by assuring him of why they are on the right track under Ten Hag anyway.
Two years ago, Erling Haaland's father hinted that part of the reason his son hadn't signed for United was because of concerns about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's long-term future at the club, and he was right to be cautious.
“You have to go to a club where the whole club wants you, not just the coach," Alf-Inge Haaland said three months after the confirmation of his son’s move to Dortmund.
“I think that’s the most important thing, apart from how the club has been the last five to ten years and what direction they have taken. Because it’s dangerous just to sign for a coach because he can suddenly be fired. “
United can't sugar coat how poorly they have performed over the past nine years, and De Jong must be well aware that moving to Old Trafford in its current state at this stage of his career represents a sizeable risk. But they can certainly make their future look a lot more appealing, and the reward for such a gamble could be massive.
Signing him this summer would prove they have managed to ease those concerns.
READ MORE:
