For a player who never goes into hiding on the pitch, Jude Bellingham did his best to hide from cameras when he was driven into Manchester United's Carrington training complex nearly three years ago. Bellingham's father smiled for the cameraman.
Sources at Carrington say United "rolled out the red carpet" for Bellingham, 16 at the time. Ed Woodward, who had indicated earlier in the season he had "nothing to do with recruitment", and transfer negotiator Matt Judge were both on site. Bellingham was introduced to all key staff personnel.
Arjen Robben and Aaron Ramsey are maybe the only other worldwide-known footballers who have left Carrington only to never return. Robben was papped and United were emboldened enough to write 'Ramsey fee agreed' on their own website.
Also read: United open to making second moves for De Jong and Bellingham
Gary Neville, who gave a teenage Ramsey a tour of United's training complex in the absence of the holidaying Sir Alex Ferguson in 2008, spotted Bellingham's interactions with Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold during the World Cup. "You think, you cheeky little sods, you know what you're trying to do."
No one in England squads was cheekier than Neville when he knocked on the door of Steven Gerrard's hotel room at The Lowry. His pitch to sell United to the Liverpool icon was as short as the shrift Gerrard gave him.
United have historically pursued England internationals who have had outstanding tournaments. Alan Shearer eluded Ferguson in 1996; Rio Ferdinand's World Cup performances in 2002 commanded a British-record fee; Wayne Rooney was signed a year earlier than intended after his ebullient European Championship in 2004 and Owen Hargreaves was prised from Bayern Munich a year after his 2006 World Cup performances were lionised.
Well-placed sources at United have spoken of how influential Marcus Rashford is in the England squad. Maybe not as much now in terms of selling United to players, with his contract expiring in 18 months. Rashford's brother and agent, Dwaine Maynard, met Paris Saint-Germain officials in a rendezvous a source close to Rashford said was ill-advised.
Bellingham, still only 19, would enhance any midfield in the world and Declan Rice, admired by United since Jose Mourinho's last months, effectively submitted a transfer request during the World Cup.
"I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies," Rice said. "You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in." West Ham are 16th in the Premier League.
Either would improve United but Bellingham has been watched so closely by Ten Hag he has noted the midfielder's performance level for Borussia Dortmund has been lower than his domineering displays in Qatar.
Bellingham has his pick of the lot, should he end his Ruhr residency after three years. Pep Guardiola has extended his Manchester City contract until 2025 and Erling Haaland is the ideal salesman for his old Dortmund teammate.
Liverpool's midfield is in disarray and Roy Keane has likened Bellingham to Gerrard. Older generations have mentioned him in the same breath as the Herculean Bryan Robson. Bookies might as well close the odds on the next England captain.
There is a very real possibility Bellingham and Rice only stride onto the Old Trafford pitch as opponents. United have to be in the Champions League next season to be in the conversation for either player. However brazenly Liverpool flutter their eyelashes at Bellingham, they are below United in the Premier League.
Ten Hag said in Melbourne his preference is to sign English players seasoned in the Premier League but he has not closed the door on Frenkie de Jong.
While De Jong publicly pledged his commitment to Barcelona, privately he informed Ten Hag he would be prepared to join United, hence the almost never-ending pursuit that was ended by the Brentford debacle.
At that point, Ten Hag accepted a defensive midfield specialist was essential and United received the green light from the Glazers to sign Casemiro for a similar fee they had reserved for De Jong.
United agreed an €85million fee with Barcelona for De Jong and reached a verbal agreement with his agent, Ali Dursun, on personal terms. His wage deferral at European football's basketcase club proved to be an insurmountable stumbling block and senior United figures sympathised with De Jong.
The United football director John Murtough attended a Barcelona match earlier this season and met club officials to develop relationships. They will meet again in February, with figures from both clubs likely to meet for a luncheon on the day of the first leg Europa League play-off tie.
Bellingham is the younger by six years but, of the two, De Jong is the more gettable. He has been left in the shade by the Masia maestros Pedri and Gavi and Ten Hag is the coach who developed him into a £65m playmaker worthy of Barcelona. Bellingham's stock has soared to a nine-figure valuation whereas De Jong's has dipped.
Christian Eriksen and Casemiro is a starting midfield partnership worthy of United but both turn 31 in February and the quality in depth is lacking. Scott McTominay and Fred are squad players and Donny van de Beek seldom looks a player.
As Ten Hag said, good is not good enough. In the game's most intense league, United have to energise their midfield and there is scope for significant investment beyond the priority position of a goalscorer.
They cannot hide from that.
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