Erik ten Hag’s summer-long pursuit of Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong: naive folly or a show of intent from a new Manchester United manager brave enough to do it his way? After a week on the club tour of Thailand and Australia observing the Dutchman, an impression forms of the latter, that Ten Hag is a steely eyed operator who knows precisely what is required to rebuild a squad that lagged 35 points behind Manchester City last season.
A naysayer might posit an argument concerning eggs and a solitary basket. That even if the repeated noises from the De Jong camp regarding his wish to stay at…
