April 2017 and kick-off between Manchester United and Chelsea is imminent. In the directors' box, William and Michael Keane shuffle along the aisle adjacent to the press box and take their seats.
The Heaton Moor-born twins, FA Youth Cup winners with the United academy in 2011 and both played by Sir Alex Ferguson, have long since left but are stood and applauding their boyhood club. Will started and scored in Jose Mourinho's first friendly at Wigan but is at Hull permanently and Michael is back in the Premier League with Burnley.
The twins are accompanied by their brother, Tom, a qualified lawyer. Michael's attendance turns heads as United have shortlisted him among the centre halves under consideration ahead of the summer transfer window.
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United eventually revive a deal for Victor Lindelof and Michael moves to Everton for £25million. The next time he is at Old Trafford, Everton are whipped 4-0.
Michael is still at Everton and has attained 12 England caps while Will, prolific in Wigan's title-winning League One campaign, is now a Republic of Ireland international.
A Keane is returning to United, albeit the non-playing one. United have appointed Tom, an associate of the Brandsmiths firm, in a temporary consultancy role to offset the departure of the former director of football negotiations Matt Judge.
Keane is listed among the team members of the New Era agency that represents the Keane twins and Rio Ferdinand is closely involved with. Their website says Tom's "combination of professionalism and football market knowledge is invaluable to clients".
Despite installing a football director and technical director last year, United were still dependent on agencies to negotiate certain deals. Base Soccer brokered moves involving Alexis Sanchez, Amad and Axel Tuanzebe in the last three years.
Tom's twins obtained achieved 19 GCSEs between them - the majority of them A or A* - at St Bede's College while Tom did law.
Brandsmiths' bio for Keane notes: "In sport, Tom has vast experience in the football industry where he has become a trusted advisor and representative for household name players, managers and pundits. His work for these clients includes negotiating high-value transfers, contracts and endorsement agreements.
"Clients who work with Tom appreciate his attention to detail and his focus on the commercial driver behind any deal or dispute." 'What attracted United to the commercial driver lawyer?' is an open goal for the sceptics.
A source who has dealt with United and the Keanes says hiring Tom is "the best thing they have done in ages. He knows the players, knows their salaries and understands Man United. He's got Declan Rice's number." Rice is not an attainable target this year.
Another source who has worked closely with Keane describes him as "a hugely impressive, intelligent and cool operator". An agency source has found Keane to be an amiable contact.
Keane contacted an agency recently to pitch to oversee their legal work. After a mass exodus at hierarchical level, United's skeleton staff has led them to lean on legal and finance departments during negotiations for prospective signings, led by football director John Murtough.
The initial report United had sought Keane's expertise drew derision online. He joined Brandsmiths in 2018 and some who have encountered Keane question the leap he is about to take.
"He is qualified but not massively experienced," a source said. "A good bloke but a club like that should have someone more experienced."
Ed Woodward placed Judge "at the coalface", touching base with agents and assessing whether a target was aligned with United's recruitment criteria.
Lindelof nor Keane were Mourinho's preferred centre-back target five years ago and shortly after the Chelsea match the Keanes attended Judge was gauging the possibility of a deal for the Paris Saint-Germain enforcer Marquinhos.
United were played again; Marquinhos signed a new contract two months later.
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