It's going to be fascinating to see what types of changes Erik ten Hag implements during his first pre-season with Manchester United. The Dutchman was unveiled as the new United manager at the start of the week as work officially began on a massive rebuilding job and a new era for a club which has lost its way in recent years.
As part of his first interview with the club, Ten Hag revealed that the members of the squad who are not involved in the upcoming international fixtures are due back from their holidays on Monday 27 June.
It gives him exactly one month to perfect his plan before he gets to work with the players in a hands-on role and time to solve five squad issues before a ball is even kicked.
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Which players are going
At the top of Ten Hag's list will be deciding which players are actually going to be part of his project, and which of those he actually wants along for the ride as well.
It is well documented that six players are expected to leave when their contracts expire this summer, though one of them, Juan Mata, has already hinted he would be happy to stay if offered a new deal.
United's squad is filled with fringe players who are yet to cut it at the club, and Ten Hag will need to be ruthless when evaluating which players really do add value to his side next season.
Dean Henderson, Axel Tuanzebe, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Alex Telles, Brandon Williams, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Andreas Pereira and Anthony Martial are all contracted beyond the summer window, though it would make little sense to keep them all at the club.
Youngsters who deserve a chance
Ten Hag was given a little glimpse towards the future when he took in United's defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, with Hannibal Mejbri and Anthony Elanga both given starts at Selhurst Park.
Shola Shoretire and Alejandro Garnacho both featured from the bench, while Charlie Savage and Alvaro Fernandez were both unused substitutes on the final day of the season.
A key part of Ten Hag's successful job application was his track record and commitment to nurturing youth talent, and it will likely play a crucial role in his first season at the club too.
The important factor, though, is ensuring he gives opportunities to the right players and not playing youngsters simply because it reflects well on him.
Extending contracts
As mentioned above, Mata is one player out of contract this summer who could be persuaded to stay at the club if the new manager wants to keep him around.
A number of first-team stars have also been linked to new contracts in recent months, with Fred and David de Gea both expected to be offered improved terms after impressive seasons.
It certainly makes sense to reward players who are performing well with new deals, but ultimately, those decisions should be signed off by Ten Hag rather than those above him at the club.
New signings
The most exciting point on this list is that of potential new signings, and United could have one in place by the time they start training in a month's time.
United have earmarked a new midfielder as their 'biggest' issue this summer, but that doesn't mean it'll be their first signing of the window. A move for Kalvin Phillips is complicated by the fact that Leeds stayed up and Man City are also interested in him, while Declan Rice is too expensive this time around. Frenkie de Jong would be an excellent addition, but signing him is easier said than done.
Getting a new centre-back shouldn't be so tricky, though. Jurrien Timber and Pau Torres are both of interest to the club and both would be allowed to move this summer if an appropriate offer came in.
Having a new central defender at the club in a month's time is certainly doable, but there is no rush if they need to wait for the perfect one.
Tactical approach
What underpins all the above points is the way in which Ten Hag actually wants his side to play next season. He has always favoured a 4-3-3 variant at Ajax and was accustomed to playing in a similar set-up during his playing career at FC Twente.
United have themselves played in different variants of the formation in recent years, toying with a 4-2-3-1, a 4-1-2-3 and a standard 4-3-3 in the past year alone.
The style and structure demanded by Ten Hag will be what ultimately dictates the players he will look to buy and those already in the squad who could be given new roles.
Pre-season will give the Dutch manager time to experiment with a few different tactical approaches if he wants to, but he should already have an idea in his head about which set-up best fits the squad at his disposal.
