Manchester United's summer transfer window looks set to be one of major change, regardless of who is signing the cheques.
Uncertainty regarding the takeover process has cast doubt over who will be the owner come summer. Monday just gone marked six months since the Glazers announced they will 'explore strategic alternatives', yet there is still concern that a sale will not be any closer when the window opens on June 14.
United have a lot to do between then and the September 1 deadline, with Erik ten Hag making no secret of his desire to strengthen across the board. He remains in the dark over who will finance signings, but admitted earlier this week that work is already underway.
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"This season that has to be our energy and the focus, but of course we are also planning for the future, for next season and that's what we have to do," the Dutchman told Sky Sports on Thursday. "And that is also talking with your scouting department, recruitment responsibilities, and talking with players of course."
A world-class goalscorer remains the priority, with Harry Kane the prime target and several top-level alternatives also of interest. Central midfield also needs more quality, as the lengthy and failed pursuit of Frenkie De Jong showed last summer.
Defensive reinforcements have also been explored by Ten Hag, but the Dutchman has a luxury in that area of the pitch: versatility.
Luke Shaw's emergence as a more than capable centre-back has been one of the stories of the season at United, his form in the new role good enough to see club captain Harry Maguire on the bench. It is a testament to Shaw that United's recent struggles - with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane both absent for long periods - have been scoring goals, rather than leaking them.
Equally, Diogo Dalot has impressed at left-back in recent weeks, finding a place on the opposite side amid a resurgence in Aaron Wan-Bissaka's form that has club figures re-assessing his future at United.
Versatility is an important quality for players to have under Ten Hag, a manager who demands the highest level of tactical intelligence. The Dutchman has often praised the likes of Shaw for being able to fulfil multiple roles, as he did in January.
“We have seen in the last two games [that Shaw could play left centre-back often]," Ten Hag said. "I think he did fabulous and was impressive. But we also know he is really good as a full-back [so] it’s an extra option and [that] is always good for a team.”
With the likes of Dalot and Shaw able to plug multiple gaps, the pressure to reinforce defensively is eased. Ten Hag remains keen to improve at right-back, and talks with representatives of Jeremie Frimpong suggest targets are being explored. Similarly, reports of interest in several centre-backs suggest more quality is needed in that role.
But they are not discussed with the same urgency as midfield or attacking arrivals, which remain the absolute priority.
Versatility is Ten Hag's insurance, and he has seen over the season who can be relied upon to fulfil different roles. Able cover defensively has allowed him to put reinforcements on the back burner and focus solely on targets further forward.
And amid a summer of major change, that consistency could be invaluable.
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