As Erik ten Hag flies into the UK to begin work as Manchester United manager, the rumour mill about which players he will sign is in full spin.
There's nothing extraordinary about the Old Trafford club being linked with pretty much everyone on the market but this summer promises to be more frantic than ever.
Not only is Ten Hag a new manager coming in but the Dutchman is being expected to oversee a thorough overhaul of a United squad who have completely failed to perform this season.
They could yet finish seventh in the Premier League, meaning Ten Hag's first season will be spent slogging through the Europa Conference League, but that's really the least of their worries.
A number of players - including Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata - will depart over the summer and it's clear from performances this season that United need improvement in about five different areas.
Ten Hag should realise that central/defensive midfield, central defence and right-back are the priority areas and he has been promised transfer funds to start building United in his image.
The transfer window in England opens on June 10 and we run the rule over United's potential targets and the likelihood of a move actually happening.
FRENKIE DE JONG
The thought of the talented Dutch midfielder being reunited with Ten Hag, his erstwhile coach at Ajax, is a nice one.
De Jong would clearly be an upgrade on their current midfield options and knows the style Ten Hag will play. He could sit alongside Bruno Fernandes in a double creative pivot behind Cristiano Ronaldo, or play deeper.
But, as Sportsmail reported on Wednesday night, United are unwilling to break the bank on a player Barcelona want £70million for, having themselves paid £65m for De Jong back in 2019.
A compromise is a long way off as it stands and De Jong, 25, would either prefer to stay at the Nou Camp or move to a Champions League club. United most certainly won't be offering that next season.
What's more, with United missing out on Champions League football, there will be a knock-on effect when it comes to the money Ten Hag is handed to spend.
Going for De Jong would probably blow all of that and address only one of United's problem areas. The prospect of this move happening seems to be receding.
Likelihood rating: 5/10
JURRIEN TIMBER
There's probably an inevitability that Ten Hag will raid the club he's just departed for a talent or two this summer.
With United in urgent need of a central defender to either support or replace Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane, they have been heavily linked with Ajax's 20-year-old Jurrien Timber.
He was awarded the Ajax 'Talent of the Year' award at the end of the season and made 43 appearances in a title-winning campaign, proving that he has Ten Hag's trust.
Timber is fast across the ground, which means he could compensate for Maguire's lack of speed, and has good positional sense. As a young player, there's also plenty of scope for improvement in the years ahead.
Ajax would apparently want £35m for Timber, which could prove to be excellent value. Ten Hag knows the player inside out, so it would be up to him to decide whether he can cut it in English football.
Many United fans on social media are already clamouring for the club to sign Timber and it's certainly one of the likelier moves.
Likelihood rating: 8/10
LISANDRO MARTINEZ
Failing that, Ten Hag could simply move a little further down the Ajax squad list and go for Argentine centre-back Lisandro Martinez.
The 24-year-old has just been named Ajax Player of the Year and has amassed Champions League experience in the past three years in Amsterdam.
Martinez also comes with the added advantage of being able to play not only centre-half but also at left-back, which would offer a back-up option to Luke Shaw.
He's also au fait with Ten Hag's systems, whether that be three or four in defence and would cost less than Timber at around £25m.
Given how poorly United's defenders have played this season, Martinez would surely offer an upgrade on most of their current options and certainly Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Phil Jones, who may leave.
He could represent a good back-up option if Ten Hag can't prise Timber from his old club but they probably wouldn't sign both.
Likelihood rating: 7/10
DARWIN NUNEZ
The centre forward position is an interesting one. United will need one because Edinson Cavani is leaving but we all know that Cristiano Ronaldo is going to play there if he stays at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag may adopt a forward pairing but really any signing will be playing second fiddle to the 37-year-old for at least the first year.
That role may suit someone like Darwin Nunez, who has 34 goals for Benfica this season, as it would allow time to settle into English football.
At 22, the Uruguayan will have plenty of seasons ahead of him and would certainly profit from being under Ronaldo's tutelage.
Nunez is certainly a United target but the cost could prove prohibitive. Benfica are asking for at least £50m and Portuguese newspapers are saying this has been raised to £80m amid interest from other European clubs.
That second figure would surely prove too much. Manchester City have just signed Erling Haaland, one of the world's best forwards, for £51m, for example.
You suspect United won't have that kind of budget this summer given there are more pressing issues to address.
Likelihood rating: 6/10
PAULO DYBALA
That's where someone like Paulo Dybala, out of contract at Juventus and available on a free, may come in.
The Argentine, who has scored 115 goals in 292 games for Juventus over seven seasons, has said his farewells in Turin and is in demand from Tottenham, Roma and others as well as reportedly being on United's radar.
While Dybala has an understanding of how to play alongside Ronaldo from their time together at Juventus, he may not wish to be overshadowed by the Portuguese star once again.
Dybala, 28, is a proven goalscorer at the top level and whoever gets him for nothing could well have themselves a bargain. United could do a lot worse but will face stiff competition.
Likelihood rating: 7/10
KALVIN PHILLIPS
The England midfielder has been linked with United for some time and would solve the long-standing issue in defensive midfield.
Several transfer windows have passed without the club addressing this but with Matic and Pogba leaving this time they will have to act. As it stands, they have only Fred and Scott McTominay, which hardly inspires confidence.
Phillips would supply plenty of energy and tenacity but he has made it very clear that he wouldn't leave Leeds for their arch-rivals.
Having gone public with this sentiment, it'd be very tricky to go back on it even if relegation from the Premier League forces Leeds to offload him to raise money.
Manchester City have apparently joined the chase for Phillips and that would be a far more palatable option for all concerned.
Likelihood rating: 2/10
DECLAN RICE
Rice would surely be the first choice in the defensive midfield position but there's certainly plenty of obstacles in the way of United signing him.
The England international was outstanding at Euro 2020 and has continued that form in during a memorable season for West Ham.
The Hammers are fully braced to be fending off offers for him all summer and are unlikely to let him leave for anything less than £100m.
United, so in need of a tireless deep-lying midfielder who can not only shield the defence but drive them forward and pass through the lines, have inevitably been linked.
They would be among the leading contenders to sign Rice, 23, and it would certainly be an excellent statement of intent as the Ten Hag era begins.
But it would blow the budget and Rice, who has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football, may not see Europa League United as a forward step right now.
If United can sign him, they would have a brilliant leader in their midfield whose work-rate would satisfy Ten Hag.
It's up to the Old Trafford club to make Rice an offer he can't refuse.
Likelihood rating: 6/10
SERGEJ MILINKOVIC-SAVIC
United have seemingly been linked with the Serbian international under about four different managers now and with a midfielder the pressing need, this could finally be the time.
Milinkovic-Savic, 27, has enjoyed an excellent season at Lazio and reports in Italy have suggested that, on the back of this, the asking price has risen to £68m.
United should be able to negotiate that down a bit but there will be other top clubs sniffing around for someone who has 11 goals and 11 assists in 36 Serie A games this season.
Nonetheless, Milinkovic-Savic may prove a decent alternative should they fail in their pursuit of Rice and Phillips.
Likelihood rating: 7/10
ANTONY
Another member of Ten Hag's Ajax crew who may be tempted across the North Sea along with their manager.
The very talented Brazilian winger, 22, has enjoyed a fine season in Holland, registering 12 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
Liverpool have also been linked with a player who will command a hefty fee, given Ajax will have to pay a chunk to his old club Sao Paulo.
Antony, who plays on the right wing, certainly has an exciting skillset very much steeped in the United tradition and would get bums off seats at Old Trafford.
However, this isn't a priority position for United and they already have Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga who can play there.
Potentially one for another transfer window once we know a little more about how Ten Hag wants to line up and how he's faring in England.
Likelihood rating: 5/10
PAU TORRES
Yet another player who seems to be perennially linked with United. The Villarreal defender, 25, is regarded among Europe's best and has also been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham.
Both of those clubs will probably be able to offer him a continuation of Champions League football next season, after Villarreal reached this year's semis.
United would not, but the £51m release clause isn't extortionate and they'd no doubt pay Torres a massive salary.
May well be the option United go for if they can't sign either of the Ajax defensive options but Torres will have his pick of suitors.
Likelihood rating: 6/10
TYRELL MALACIA
United have reportedly been keeping tabs on the Feyenoord left-back for a while now and Malacia is a player Ten Hag previously tried - and failed - to sign when at Ajax because of the bitter rivalry between the two clubs.
The 22-year-old could be available for as little as £20m and United recently sent scouts to watch Malacia play for Feyenoord against Marseille in the Europa Conference League.
The fact Ten Hag has previously tried to sign him suggests he believes the youngster is suitable for his flying wing-back formation, something he is likely to copy at United.
Malacia would supply competition to Shaw, who has missed the end of the season through injury, and Alex Telles, who increasingly looks a letdown at Old Trafford.
But the truth is United are in greater need of a right-sided full-back or wing-back with neither Aaron Wan-Bissaka nor Diogo Dalot entirely convincing.
Unless Ten Hag believes he can convert Malacia to the other side, he'd be better off focusing on reinforcements elsewhere.
Likelihood rating: 7/10
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
Despite the best efforts of Thomas Frank and the Brentford fans, it's highly likely Christian Eriksen will depart at the end of the season for a club that can offer European football.
He made clear after Brentford's win at the weekend that he wants to play in the Champions League again having been given a second chance in his career following his cardiac arrest at the Euros.
The Dane has been linked with a return to Tottenham, who probably will be able to fulfil his ambitions, and United, who obviously need a midfielder.
Eriksen, 30, could offer them plenty of creativity, perhaps in conjunction with Fernandes but there are better options around even if he wanted to come.
Likelihood rating: 4/10
ENZO FERNANDEZ
United, Man City and Real Madrid are reportedly interested in the River Plate midfielder, who is available for around the £17m mark. He has eight goals and five assists in 18 outings in South America so far in 2022.
City will wave off Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan from the Etihad in the summer and so are in need of midfielder replacements, though surely Fernandez would be one for the future rather than now.
United, for their part, probably need someone with a little more experience if they're to quickly fix their midfield woes.
Likelihood rating: 4/10
AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI
The Monaco and France man is another possibility for the defensive midfield vacancy United need to fill.
According to reports, United will face competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea for him, as well as Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
Monaco want £60m for Tchouameni and there looks set to be a real scramble to buy a 22-year-old player who has become a regular presence in Ligue 1.
He'd certainly offer United plenty but the trouble is they aren't in a position to compete with all those other suitors when they don't have Champions League football to offer.
Likelihood rating: 5/10