The tussle for Memphis Depay’s signature looked as though it was going to be one of the most complex transfer stories of the summer. But great credit must go to Manchester United, who, despite a wealth of classy competition, confirmed an agreement between themselves and PSV Eindhoven is in place for the signing of the player.

Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain were also apparently in for the enthralling young winger and the fee is apparently between £25-30 million, per BBC Sport. But what exactly are the Old Trafford outfit getting for that significant outlay?

Make no mistake, Depay is a top acquisition for the Red Devils. Blessed with all the essential qualities required to be a top quality wide-man, stylistically he’ll immediately add something new to United’s offensive forays.

While Louis van Gaal has deployed Juan Mata and Angel Di Maria in advanced flanking roles in his favored 4-3-3 system, both of those players are at their best in a more central berth. But Depay is an orthodox winger, comfortable on either flank and taking on his opposite full-back inside or out.

All the physical attributes—pace, power and energy—are already in situ to suggest he will flourish in the Premier League eventually. But what sets this Oranje starlet apart from a lot of players is his intangible qualities; Depay has a fundamental understanding of the game that is rare for a rising star of his age and in his position.

His 24 goals and four assists this season point to a player who has incision to match his intricacy. In front of goal he has an unerring composure, he’s an understatedly intelligent passer of the ball—as illustrated by the average of 2.1 key passes per game he makes—and has an engrossing variety to his play.

Comparisons have already been made to likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Arjen Robben, stirring early excitement amongst the club’s worldwide fan base. But United supporters expecting the Dutch international to come in and make an immediate impact are getting slightly ahead of themselves.

Yes, the talent is there and Depay is definitely a player who will enchant the Old Trafford crowd. But for all the desirable traits he’s shown this season, he’s still raw.

During PSV’s triumphant Eredivisie campaign there have been moments of undiluted genius from the Dutchman, but his marvellous season has also been punctured by frustrating passages of play.

At times, his propensity to cut inside from the left—while he’s superb at it—can make him a little predictable, while he’s also occasionally careless with the ball, as is evident by the average of 2.4 dispossessions and 3.1 poor touches he endures per game.

These deficiencies may not be ruthlessly exploited in Dutch football’s top flight, but they will be in the Premier League. The abrasive, unforgiving landscape of English football will also pose problems for Depay, as he will face fresh obstacles when going up against rugged, uncompromising full-backs.

It makes patience imperative when the Oranje starlet does eventually make the switch to Manchester. He may find the transitional period tough, not only in terms of style, but as a young man leaving a club he’s been with for almost a decade and doing so with the accompanying pressures that come alongside such a substantial price-tag.

There are factors that should expedite his progression though, most notably Van Gaal’s influence. The two worked well together during the World Cup and the then Netherlands boss utilized this burgeoning young star superbly; in turn, the PSV man showcased his ability to impact games at the highest level and fulfil a variety of tactical roles with distinction.

Additionally, Depay’s capricious playing style will give United an edge they’ve lacked for large portions of this season. The 21-year-old will probably frustrate his teammates and supporters to begin with, but his direct wing play will refresh the Red Devils’ attacking surges and keep opponents guessing too.

Depay’s skill set is broad and hugely exciting, but his attributes are still malleable. Van Gaal will be acutely aware of that and although he’s willing to part with a huge sum of money to land the winger, don’t be surprised if he’s used in a similar capacity to the 2014 World Cup to begin with.

Once the youngster finds his footing and becomes better acclimatized with the basic requisite requirements of Premier League football, that’s when we’ll start to see the stardust that’s made him so coveted. And that’s when we’ll see just how far this tremendously talented young man can go in the game.

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com.

Follow Matt on Twitter @MattJFootball