There will be a lot for Erik ten Hag to consider as he looks to improve Manchester United during the off-season. The end of a campaign brings with it hopes of a fresh beginning and, naturally, plenty of transfer talk as teams look to bolster their squads with new additions.
United are no different. They are expecting another busy summer of both arrivals and departures as they look to take the next step in their rebuild and close the gap between them and the leading sides in the Premier League.
One of the biggest changes they make this summer could be as simple as making just one alteration to their starting line up though.
Read more: United change pre-season plans after losing FA Cup final
Ten Hag is still working out which players are best-suited to his desired style of play and the final months of the season shone a light on the talent he has in reserve.
Victor Lindelof was one of United's best performers over the final months of the season and might have already done enough to edge himself up the pecking order ahead of pre-season.
The Sweden captain performed brilliantly when given a regular run of matches towards the end of the campaign, impressing not only with his sheer defensive qualities but his distribution skills as well.
Perhaps surpririsngly, Lindelof finished the Premier League season with the best pass completion percentage of anyone in the division, narrowly beating Manchester City duo Manuel Akanji and John Stones to the top spot.
City players dominated the rankings, with half of the top 10 playing for the club. Lisandro Martinez was the second-highest ranking United player in the competition, finishing 29th overall.
Those two centre-backs encapsulate everything that Ten Hag wants from his defenders; they are not only good at defending but both are comfortable with the ball at their feet and capable of orchestrating attacks from deep. These traits are crucial for the style of play being worked on and will only grow in importance next season as Ten Hag looks to take things to the next level.
United were only the seventh best side for pass completion in the top-flight last season, below the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham and only marginally above Wolves in the table.
It would be a huge ask for them to ever topple City as the best passers in the league, but it is certainly something they must strive to do, and the best way to do so would be by utilising players who are comfortable in possession.
Any defensive switch would mean someone else missing out, and it would still be a huge call if Lindelof was selected regularly ahead of Raphael Varane instead.
It isn't totally ludicrous though. Varane missed 15 matches through three seperate injuries during the past season and despite his enormous quality he has often struggled to stay fit during his time at the club.
In comparison, Lindelof has only missed 14 matches through injury since he joined United six years ago, as well as another five through illness.
Ten Hag might be able to rely more regularly on a centre-back partnership of Lindelof and Martinez next season, and there is a decent track record to suggest that it is one worth considering.
United won 89 per cent of their matches when Lindelof and Martinez lined up in defence over the course of last season, with the only defeat as a pair coming against Aston Villa last year.
Lindelof's showing in the FA Cup final will no doubt draw critcism against him having a regular role next season, but there is certainly mitigation in his performance considering the majority of his teammates underperformed as well.
It certainly feels like it is a change worth considering anyway as Ten Hag looks for the consistency required to compete at the top end of the Premier League right until the end.
United need to freshen things up and this change wouldn't cost them anything.
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