If there's one thing we can all agree on when it comes to Manchester United's future - it's that they need a new central midfielder.
Fred is energetic and enthusiastic but lacks the defensive nous needed to guard the back four. Nemanja Matic's dynamism has faded, while Scott McTominay has never silenced his critics. And not much needs to be said about Paul Pogba, seeing as his contract is up in June and is unlikely to sign an extension.
Here, Mirror Football takes a look at three midfielders United are constantly linked with, assessing their chances of moving to Old Trafford and whether they would be an upgrade on their current options.
Declan Rice
United have been linked with Rice for sometime and there's no question he'd be a significant improvement. The England international, 23, is not just a defensive midfielder - he's a box-to-box, all-action star capable of driving the team back into contention.
There are two big stumbling blocks, however. The first is United's Champions League status, which is at serious risk of evaporating. The Red Devils are currently seventh in the Premier League, three points behind Tottenham in fourth.
At this moment in time, Rice's current side - West Ham - have just as much of a chance of qualifying for Europe's most prestigious competition as United. They're sixth in the table and have reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Rice's valuation is also a huge problem. He's reportedly worth £150million in the eyes of the Hammers and manager David Moyes has already confirmed they won't accept a bid of £100m. "That was your chance to get Declan Rice cheap," said Moyes in February.
That said, it's believed Erik ten Hag - the favourite for the United job - will get a huge transfer war chest to rebuild United's stuttering team. That could be hundreds of millions of pounds considering the club's massive commercial power.
United's chances of bagging Rice look set to hinge on their Champions League status. If they qualify ahead of West Ham, Rice would be the perfect fit - even if he costs £150m. If they end up in the Europa Conference League, they've got no chance.
Kalvin Phillips
Leeds midfielder Phillips was England's surprise package at last summer's Euros, playing a starring role to help the Three Lions reach the final. Ever since then, the 26-year-old has been linked with a move from Elland Road to a top European side.
Phillips would be a much cheaper option than Rice due to his age and Leeds' position in the Premier League, as there's still a chance Jesse Marsch's team could be relegated. And, according to the Manchester Evening News, United are working on a deal to sign him.
There is one huge stumbling block, however. Phillips is a massive Leeds fan - he comes from a family of Leeds fans - and United are their biggest rivals. He's currently on course to become a Leeds legend and would sacrifice that if he moves to Old Trafford.
There's no doubting Phillips' ability and that he would improve United's midfield, yet it's hard to see him pulling on that red shirt anytime soon. Alan Smith and Eric Cantona famously made the move from Leeds to Manchester, of course, but it's still a rarity.
Ruben Neves
As reported by The Sun, Ten Hag has made Neves his number one transfer target - and it's probably a wise decision. The Wolves midfielder has nearly four years' worth of experience in the Premier League under his belt, consistently performs at a high level and is still only 25.
Neves would also be the most affordable option. According to Transfermarkt, he's valued at £36m. Wolves wouldn't accept such a bid, yet it's unlikely they'd slap a ridiculous price tag on the Portugal international. He has 26 months left on his current deal.
And Neves wouldn't be vilified by his current fans for joining United, unlike Phillips. Perhaps the biggest problem is he's simply not as good as Rice or Phillips. Neves is an upgrade on the likes of Fred, McTominay and Matic - yet he isn't going to lead United to the title.
Years ago, United could sign the best players in the land with ease. Today, however, it's not that simple. Champions League football will open up a lot of avenues for Ten Hag - or whoever gets the job - but they could find themselves scrambling for talent without it.
