Manchester United may not have caught anything yet but they are certainly in the right hunting ground.
It's a massive summer for United as they look to significantly improve a squad that registered the club's worst-ever Premier League return last term and give new manager Erik ten Hag the best building blocks possible as he looks to construct a new era at Old Trafford. The transfer window has gotten off to a nervously slow start, as United are yet to bring a player in while Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham have all made big signings, but there is no need for panic stations yet as they are looking in the right places.
The area that is absolutely pivotal United get right above all others is the midfield. There was already a dire need for improvement in the middle of the park last season and that was before Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata all departed upon the expiration of their contracts. But the need for strong midfield signings has become even more important with the arrival of Ten Hag, who will rely on intelligent and technical middlemen to implement his philosophy on match days.
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Intelligent and technical are two words that could easily describe both Frenkie de Jong and Christian Eriksen, both of whom were brought up in the Total Football school of Ajax and have the exact qualities the new manager will want in the engine room of his side. United are trying to sign them both.
Though it once appeared like a pipe dream, a move for De Jong appears to be edging closer with Barcelona keen to offload the player, despite how suited he is to Barca, in order to fund their latest splurge on ageing megastars. Ten Hag identified the 25-year-old, whom he enjoyed great success with in Amsterdam, early on as the perfect player to help stamp his identity on the squad. It would be a pricey signing but United have no player capable of the range of passing and tactical nous on the field as De Jong.
Then there is Eriksen, who came back from the biggest adversity possible in January to prove he is still a world-class operator despite all the upheaval he has faced. The Dane only signed a short-term deal at Brentford and after playing so well on his return to the Premier League now has plenty of suitors keen on a free transfer.
United are interested in signing Eriksen and if they do sign him as well as De Jong they will completely revolutionise their midfield, adding a wealth of skill and ingenuity to replace the hard running and bluster they currently have. If United somehow managed to fend off stiff competition for both signatures, what would that mean for Bruno Fernandes?
De Jong would have to be an instant starter in what will presumably be a midfield three and though he may not play every minute of every game, Eriksen won't be going anywhere to just warm the bench. With both being more advanced players, the final player in the three would have to be more defensive-minded. That leaves little room for Fernandes.
At least not in a central position. Instead, Ten Hag could potentially try Fernandes in a wide forward role that could very well suit all parties.
Fernandes is a risk-taker. Sometimes those risks pay off in spectacular fashion but mostly it leads to balls sailing out of play. But either way, Ten Hag is a manager who is all about control and taking risks directly leads to less control. Having a player like Fernandes, who is constantly looking for a Hollywood pass or a wonder strike, will lead to United conceding possession much more often than it will result in a goal. It's hard to see that flying under the new boss.
Ten Hag likes his midfielders to be safe in possession and keep the ball for long periods. If the opposition isn't in possession then they're not going to score, you just need to be patient and inventive to find the opening. That isn't Fernandes' style.
But out on a flank and further up the pitch there is more of an onus to make something happen, to deliver a pinpoint cross or get in behind the defence. To be a catalyst. That's what Fernandes' strengths are, making game-changing moments, and doing that in a position in which losing possession is less likely to be costly will help Ten Hag's side maintain control.
It's a trick the Dutchman employed at Ajax by moving flair players like Hakim Ziyech and Dusan Tadic out to the flanks where they can still be effective but their risks aren't going to see the ball lost in dangerous areas. He could very well try it again with Fernandes.
It would also help United in the transfer market as they could do with signing a new wide forward this summer but that may be difficult as it isn't the biggest priority. But if Fernandes moves there it removes the need for reinforcements.
It could also be a boon for the Portuguese, who has lost his cutting edge in 2022 and has cut a frustrated figure as fewer and fewer of his risks paid off. A new role, one with more freedom, may be what he needs to get back to his talismanic best.
If United's summer window goes to plan then Fernandes could well be forced out of a position that he's held unrivalled for over two years, but it might just benefit everyone.
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