Memphis Depay to Manchester United is just the first piece in Louis van Gaal's jigsaw puzzle as manager does transfer business early

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For Manchester United, the two years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement have brought some hard lessons, nowhere more so than in the transfer market.

Last-minute deals, over-priced deals, collapsed deals and scrapped deals; the Barclays Premier League’s foremost club have made hard work of something that used to be quite simple in the 24 months since Ferguson stepped aside this very week in 2012.

What use lessons, though, if nothing is learned from them? 

Manchester United announced their agreement to sign Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven on Thursday

Depay celebrates one of his 21 goals in 28 appearances for PSV this season in the Dutch Eredivisie 

For some time now, United have been talking quietly about doing this summer’s business early.

With the announcement of an agreement to sign the young Holland forward Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven on Thursday, it seems they have finally found a way of fulfilling some promises.

This is the way it was going to be last year, of course. 

Then, however, they made the decision to sack David Moyes. The hiring of a manager committed to the World Cup campaign with Holland meant that players such as Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao didn’t arrive until after the current league season had started.

No danger of that this time, it seems. United moved decisively over Depay this week to gazump Paris Saint-Germain and bring in the first player of maybe five or six who could arrive at Old Trafford this summer. 

Depay worked with his soon-to-be manager Louis van Gaal and reached the World Cup semis with Holland

Van Gaal and Depay, 21, share a light-hearted moment in Brazil where the Dutch side made the last four

‘If you had asked me two days ago where Memphis was going to go I would have said PSG,’ said PSV sporting director Marcel Brands. ‘The British were very late with a concrete offer. Actually, only in the last 48 hours there is a transfer to Manchester United.

‘It has become a whirlwind transition. But ultimately the player decides where he wants to go and that’s become Manchester.’

This is the way that United used to behave.

As long ago as 1973, the club hijacked Lou Macari’s move from Celtic to Liverpool when Tommy Docherty’s assistant manager Pat Crerand found himself sitting next to the young Scot in Anfield’s Main Stand the night before he was due to sign.

Thirty years later, meanwhile, Ferguson rushed though the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon by a whole year after learning of growing interest from Arsenal.

Depay's numbers in Holland this season are impressive when compared with United's current forward line

Robin van Persie has delivered just 10 goals for United this term at a goal for every 208.5 minutes played

Radamel Falcao hasn't delivered since his dramatic arrival while Wayne Rooney has played defensive roles

This, of course, is how big clubs work and, just a week after suggesting privately that the Depay situation was merely being ‘monitored’, United have agreed a £25million fee with PSV.

Manager Louis van Gaal believes Depay can bring some much-needed pace and direction to his team’s attack.

Only 21, Depay was part of Van Gaal’s team at last summer’s World Cup in Brazil, scoring two goals as Holland reached the last four.

Close to United’s other Dutch players Daley Blind and Robin van Persie — with whom he shares an agent — Depay will bring some instinctive flair to Van Gaal’s squad, even if the statement he posted on social media on Thursday read like it had been clumsily cut and pasted from an awful public relations textbook.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben were hits in the Premier League, but Mateja Kezman not so much

Former PSV marksman Van Nistelrooy's 150 games for Manchester United yielded a brilliant 95 goals

Serbian journeyman Mateja Kezman (left) lasted 25 games at Chelsea before being moved on while Arjen Robben moved on to Real Madrid and now Bayern Munich, where he continues to collect trophies for fun

‘I always say; Dream, Believe, Achieve,’ tweeted Depay, who has the phrase tattooed on his torso.

‘I was dreaming and believing of becoming the champions of the Eredivisie with PSV and we achieved it.

‘I’m extremely grateful towards @PSV, all the fans, (sponsors) @UnderArmour and (agents) @SEG-Football for believing in me. Now it’s time to set my goals again on winning trophies with @ManUtd.

‘It was an exciting and pretty hectic period and to have a choice between so many top clubs doesn’t make it any easier.

‘For me, Manchester United is an absolute dream club, so I didn’t need any convincing from the guys who already play at Manchester United.

Manchester United's new star Depay is no stranger to the limelight after his impressive performances at home

Depay during a photoshoot in the woods with his beloved dog Simba

‘They told me only positive things though, and I’m looking forward to playing with my Dutch team-mates next to all the other great players of Manchester United. And working with Louis van Gaal again is also a bonus.’

Depay can expect to play on the left side of United’s attack next season but his versatility — he can play right across the front three — will be invaluable.

Van Gaal, meanwhile, has already stated that he wants to bring other targets in before the start of the club’s summer tour in mid-July.

It is beginning to sound like a promise he may actually be able to keep.

VIDEO PSV greats back Depay to deliver at Man United