Although this season has proven to be one to forget for Manchester United, the impending arrival of Erik ten Hag is set to lift the dark, grey clouds that have been hovering above Old Trafford.
The Dutchman, currently of Ajax, is edging closer and closer towards becoming United's new manager. He was interviewed for the role last month and has since been installed as the overwhelming favourite.
He is now understood to be on the brink of signing a contract at Old Trafford in preparation of picking up the baton from Ralf Rangnick, who will continue to hold the fort until the end of the season. Ten Hag's impending appointment, although it will not instantly remove the problems that United have faced throughout this season, is a sign that the club is moving in the right direction.
READ MORE: How Erik ten Hag could line up Manchester United with three new signings
Despite being 52, he is considered as a manager with a point to prove at one of Europe's big-name giants. He has overseen a solid job at Ajax and has earned the opportunity to test his mettle at a club of United's stature.
A bulk of his success at Ajax has been built on developing homegrown talent and overseeing the progress made by no shortage of academy graduates. It means that he could be the ideal figure to oversee the rise of United's next generation of talent.
On developing young talent, Ten Hag once said: "I do agree that youngsters need to get a chance in the first team but they have to deserve that chance themselves. They have to prove that they are better than the current players or at least have to potential to be better."
With that said, it is obvious that United's youngsters will get opportunities. And with that in mind, MEN Sport has taken a close look at five youngsters who could develop under Ten Hag's guidance.
Alvaro Fernandez
With both Luke Shaw and Alex Telles having struggled to make the left-back berth their own this season, young Spaniard Fernandez will fancy his chances of knocking on the door of the first-team next term, even if it is just to play the role as a squad player. He has been a regular fixture for the Under-23s this season, despite only being 19, and has shown plenty of promise.
The jump from Under-23s football to first-team level is huge, certainly at a club the size of United. But as proven by Anthony Elanga this season it is not an impossible gap to bridge.
The former Real Madrid man has been largely solid defensively and has displayed plenty of proof that he is capable of fulfilling the duties of a modern-day full-back by bombing forward. In all competitions this season, he has claimed six assists and scored four goals.
James Garner
The most obvious one? Quite possibly. But Garner has an enormous future ahead.
He has excelled on loan at Nottingham Forest this season, producing a string of outstanding displays in the centre of midfield. In a season that has seen Forest go from relegation candidates to automatic promotion contenders with just a handful of games to go, Garner has been central to their efforts.
The 21-year-old has looked ice cool in midfield, dictating patterns of play, as well as proving menacing from set-pieces, highlighting why he has four goals and seven assists to his name. Furthermore, Garner, who has a genuine chance of becoming a first-team regular at United next season, did not look out of place when Forest faced Arsenal, Leicester City and Liverpool in the FA Cup, proving that he has the capability to play in the Premier League.
Hannibal Mejbri
Already training with the first-team on a permanent basis, Hannibal is one of United's most exciting talents, despite not having made a single first-team appearance this season. In fairness to him, however, he has spent a lot of time with the Tunisia squad, including at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
But that experience will have helped the 19-year-old, that is for sure. He is highly-rated by those inside Old Trafford and Rangnick spoke glowingly of him back in December.
Considered as a creative operator, he could provide United with an extra element of flair from midfield. With Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata set to leave the club in the summer, Hannibal could be Bruno Fernandes' understudy.
Amad
His loan spell at Rangers may have proven to be a disaster, but Amad remains a player with high potential and a point to prove. His temporary switch to Glasgow was meant to give him a real taste of British football in a pressured environment, but it has simply not worked out.
But that is not to say that his hopes of making the grade at Old Trafford are over. Ten Hag has proven that he is capable of getting a tune out of youngsters with high potential, meaning there is no reason why he should not be able to live up to long-term expectations.
He may require another loan move before being considered ready for United, but Ten Hag's presence could help him no end. After all, United saw something in him to part with £37million.
Alejandro Garnacho
Arguably the most exciting player in United's academy right now, young Argentine attacker Garnacho has been making a real name for himself in recent months, suggesting that he could be the next big star to make a name for himself at Old Trafford. Vital for the Under-18s in their run to the final of the FA Youth Cup this season, the youngster has notched 12 goals and grabbed six assists in all competitions this term.
Despite only being 17-years-old, the forward, who has already been included in the Argentina senior squad, has a massive future ahead of himself and admiration for him is growing rapidly. Some supporters already want to see him in the first-team.
His flair and energy, plus fearless approach, suggests that he is one to keep a very close eye on. He could develop into a superstar under Ten Hag with the right guidance and support.
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