Erik ten Hag is expected to work closely with Manchester United's football director John Murtough as they aim to improve on a miserable campaign last time out.
The Dutchman has reportedly already identified the kind of questions both he and Murtough need to be asking of any player they look to bring to Old Trafford in the coming weeks. Plenty of changes to the playing staff are anticipated with a number of first-teamers heading for the exit door including the likes of Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard.
In their place, United are rumoured to be prowling the continent for reinforcements with names like Frenkie de Jong and Jurrien Timber being touted - both of whom have already played under Ten Hag while at Ajax. According to a recent report from the Telegraph, United's powerful pairing of Ten Hag and Murtough keep referring to the same three questions when planning summer transfers.
The criteria is thought to boil down to three simple categories: athleticism, technical ability and fight. If one player ticks all three of those boxes, there is a high chance United will look to bring him in as part of the Ten Hag revolution at Old Trafford.
Fight is arguably the most indicative criteria of them all as the lack of spirit and desire within the current crop of United stars is something that has been well-documented for quite some time. During his interim reign as manager, Ralf Rangnick was never shy in publicly bemoaning a lack of effort.
Ten Hag will view the number of players leaving the club as a positive given how bloated the Red Devils squad actually was for so much of last season. Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic all hovered around the fringes of the first team without actually getting many minutes under their belts.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should Manchester United sign this summer? Comment below
Despite the fact Timber, a central defender, seems to be the most obvious next incoming, it is actually United's attack that is thought to be the area that Ten Hag wants to strengthen as soon as possible. Cavani's future is certainly away from Manchester while there remains a lack of clarity over Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial.
Marcus Rashford endured the most difficult season of his career to date from an individual perspective, though Ten Hag is thought to view the England international as a project that he can work with to improve.
Cristiano Ronaldo is United's only real reliable goal threat, and at the age of 37, it is potentially harmful to the club's chances of a successful season to bank on the Portugal skipper to be available for every game next term. The Red Devils' top-scorer faced a spell on the side-lines due to a hip flexor injury on two separate occasions last season.
