Erik ten Hag is closing in on making his first signing since taking over as Manchester United head coach.
The Red Devils are close to sealing the £13m signing of Tyrell Malacia, which could mark the first of many new arrivals from Dutch clubs and with it, provide cause for concern amongst United supporters. The club's recent recruitment record has left a lot to be desired, but there are hopes that with Richard Arnold replacing Ed Woodward as the highest-ranking official as CEO, things will soon change for the better.
But the decision to focus on signing players from the Eredivisie, a league that is not even considered one of the top five in Europe, paints a worrying picture. While there are undoubtedly some talented players that have emerged from clubs such as Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven over the years, the current difference in quality and intensity compared to the Premier League is significant.
And having seen a similar strategy fall into place with Louis van Gaal between 2014 and 2016, United fans will need no reminder of how their previous signings have fared when treading that path. Daley Blind was a solid performer but never became indispensable, nor did he reach the heights of his 2014 World Cup display with the Netherlands.
Then there was the £30m hotshot Memphis Depay, who arrived as a 21-year-old with bags of ability but a questionable attitude - and the forward was carted off to Lyon just 18 months later for half the price.
The very reminder of the name Alexander Buttner, a left-back who made just 13 appearances for the club in two seasons, may well send a shudder down the spine of some fans.
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More recently, it seems United have failed to learn their lesson. Donny van de Beek arrived for £35m from Ajax in September 2020, but the Dutchman been a disastrous signing at Old Trafford and his record of just four Premier League start only reinforces that idea.
Even if Van de Beek revives his career under Ten Hag, there are enough failures at United to cast some doubt over whether the club should be recruiting from the region.
And yet, Ten Hag appears convinced to bring in players that he has worked with before, trusting they have the quality to succeed in the Premier League. Reports suggest the Red Devils are set to rival Arsenal for Ajax central defender Lisandro Martinez, the 24-year-old Argentinian who has made his name under Ten Hag. But the price alone, thought to be in the region of £40m, makes it a huge gamble.
Likewise, the sums discussed for 22-year-old winger Antony, rated at around £60m by Ajax, are astronomical for a player who has only played in Amsterdam for two years. The tricky winger is admired by several clubs in Europe, with Barcelona also keen. But when Premier League-proven talents like Raphinha are available for a similar fee, it makes little sense to assume the risk by shelling out such a huge amount.
United will be conscious of wanting to please their new head coach and to give him the tools to help haul the club back into the top four. But at the same time, there are lessons to be learned from their past mistakes.
And assuming players will cope with the intense pressure at United, simply because they worked well in the Netherlands, could prove to be Ten Hag's undoing.
