After a promising first campaign under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United fans are dreaming of 2023-24 being the season in which they finally get back on track after more than a decade without winning the Premier League title.
But just as supporters get their hopes up, fears are growing that the summer transfer window could scupper Ten Hag's progress and put the Red Devils back to square one. Transfer targets are being chased, current players continue to weigh up moves away and, of course, the Glazers are still unsure on their future as United's owners after a deeply unpopular 18-year reign at Old Trafford.
With Manchester City dominating, Arsenal looking to strengthen, and Liverpool on the rebuild alongside Chelsea and Tottenham, Ten Hag and co know that next term will be even tougher, especially being back in the Champions League. It's safe to say that the Red Devils need to get things right this summer, but what if they don't?
Take a trip down nightmare alley, as Mirror Football maps out what United fans have to fear before the window slams shut.
Sheikh Jassim misses out
Whether you're for or against a Qatari takeover at Old Trafford, supporters are united in their overwhelming belief that the club must see a change of principal ownership this summer, six months on from the Glazers' decision to finally put the club for sale. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a plan to keep the American involved for another three years via a majority takeover, but it's Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani who wants 100 per cent of the club right now.
The Qatari banker has already submitted five bids and privately insists that he won't up his final offer, hoping to charm the Glazers once and for all with his near-£6billion proposal. The logistics of any takeover and United's issues with Financial Fair Play mean that the transfer window itself isn't likely to be directly affected by Sheikh Jassim or Ratcliffe missing out, but starting the 2023-24 campaign with the Glazer family still making the big decisions is becoming a growing concern for fans.
It'd leave Ten Hag, his players, club employees and supporters in the lurch, just as they've been since November.
Striker search fails
Cast your mind back to the summer of 2019. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has just sanctioned the departure of Romelu Lukaku, a decision which fans largely agreed with, leaving United without an out-and-out striker and over-reliant on wide forwards Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Fast forward four years and little has changed. A series of short-term signings have been made to temporarily fill the void up front, but now Ten Hag wants to end the constant changing of the guard for good by signing a proper No.9 who can lead the Red Devils' attack for years to come.
Harry Kane is his top target, yet Tottenham are, unsurprisingly, driving a hard bargain. The same goes for Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen, understood to be Ten Hag's Plan B. Randal Kolo Muani has also been mentioned, as has Ollie Watkins.
All of those won't come cheap and with United operating on a budget worth up to a reported £150million, signing who the Dutch boss wants will be a tough challenge. Of course, a cheaper and younger alternative could come in, but what the 20-time English champions need is someone who can make it title number 21.
If a striker of the right calibre isn't recruited, then Rashford and Martial best be prepared to welcome another Wout Weghorst or Odion Ighalo on loan in January.
Mount stays at Chelsea
Speaking of targets who seem to be difficult to acquire, the Mason Mount saga has already seen some early twists and turns. After rejecting multiple contract offers from boyhood Chelsea over the course of last season, the England international wants out.
His preference is believed to be United, feeling that he can resurrect his career under Ten Hag. The feeling is mutual, too, and if only the pair of clubs could say the same. United have already lodged two bids in their most active transfer pursuit so far, with the second worth £50m.
But the Blues have turned down both offers and still hope that they can convince Mount, 24, to stay for the final year of his contract before signing a new long-term deal. If that isn't a possibility, though, Chelsea are content on cashing in, so long as it's for the £70m which co-controlling owner Todd Boehly desires. Luke Shaw may've been tapping the midfielder up on international duty, as well as Kane, but money will do the talking in the boardroom.
Have your say! Who should Manchester United sign this summer? Join the debate in the comments section.
De Gea extends - with no goalkeeper signed
First and foremost, David de Gea will go down an undisputed Manchester United great as soon as he walks away from Old Trafford. Some would even say legend, although nowadays, many would argue liability is the correct description.
A four-time Player of the Year winner, De Gea has been steadily on the decline over the past few years and his footwork has never been at the level required for a team wanting to use their goalkeeper in the first phase of playing out from the back. Ten Hag showed constant faith in him last term, defending him in countless press conferences, but the fact United are only willing to give him a new contract if he accepts a significant wage cut speaks volumes of his future prospects.
Should the 32-year-old reluctantly agree and put pen to paper a new deal, that still doesn't mean that the Red Devils can rest. Although Dean Henderson is returning from his loan with Nottingham Forest, who want to sign him permanently, United must search for a new long-term No.1 in the transfer market and ensure that it's someone who fits Ten Hag's principles, unlike De Gea.
Sales scuppered
As United operate with tightened purse strings this summer, it's imperative to offload players who Ten Hag deems surplus to requirements in order to boost the budget. The likes of Martial, Harry Maguire, Fred, Scott McTominay and others seem to be available for a transfer, but finding buyers will prove difficult.
The Red Devils consistently struggle to bring in decent fees for unwanted stars - see the recent agreement to sell academy ace Zidane Iqbal to Dutch side Utrecht for less than £1m - and convincing players to leave behind their chunky salaries is never easy. Ed Woodward will be remembered for his financial failings in the transfer market, but will current CEO Richard Arnold be the man to change that and more at Old Trafford?
