Manchester United fans might be rather grateful their transfer plans didn’t go quite according to plan a year ago.
Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro have been two of United's best players this season, but if Erik ten Hag had it his way, neither of them would have been signed last summer. The newly-appointed manager was looking for an Ajax influence upon his arrival at Old Trafford and targeted two players he had worked closely with before.
United stumbled across the addition of Casemiro when it became clear a deal for Frenkie de Jong wasn't going to happen, while Martinez arrived after his former Ajax teammate Jurrien Timber turned down a move.
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Ten Hag retains an interest in both De Jong and Timber this summer, and a year later, there is still logic in adding both of them to the United squad.
De Jong is a rather fanciful target for the creative midfield role given his huge price-tag and his own reluctance to leave Barcelona, but a move for Timber could well be a masterstroke as United look to continue their rebuild.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed another productive campaign in Amsterdam, starting all but one of his side's matches across all competitions.
Timber's decision to remain at Ajax has been vindicated by his starring role in defence, but he has already revealed that he is likely to leave this summer after making an agreement with the club last year.
"A transfer is getting closer and closer, so to speak," Timber said. "There is a lot of concrete interest and I have made agreements with Ajax. Last year Ajax asked me to stay for at least one more season and to extend my contract.
"After the season we will review the situation. At the Dutch national team, I often talk to boys who play football abroad. I want to take that step someday."
United are expected to be in the market for another centre-back this summer, though any move will rely on shifting either Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof first.
They are likely to target a player who can play a back-up role, which could be perfect for Timber as his next step forward following his exposure at Ajax.
At a young age, he would benefit from the opportunity to learn from Raphael Varane first-hand before eventually hopefully succeeding him in the years ahead. There is also the added bonus of his previous experience playing alongside Martinez in defence.
Perhaps the strongest reason to reignite interest in a move, though, is that Timber could not only solve their issues at centre-back, but he could also fill the need for a new right-back as well.
Ten Hag is keen on adding another option on the right side of defence, but before he can do so, a decision must be made on Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot, given they have both enjoyed spells as starters this season.
You can make a case for either of them to be kept going forward, and while a more attack-minded full-back would be a nice addition, it might make more sense to add another player who isn't expected to start every week.
Just last week, United great Jaap Stam posed the possibility of Timber moving to United and suggested he'd be better suited to the Premier League as a full-back than a central defender.
"You also have to look at combinations and chance of playing time," Stam told Algemeen Dagblad. "United can still use a defender, also because Raphael Varane is prone to injury and Harry Maguire is still disappointing.
"In England I therefore see United as the most logical option. And what I would like to see more often is Timber as a right-back. There are at United, where Dalot without the ball and Wan-Bissaka on the ball don't quite convince me yet."
This versatility could make Timber the ideal addition to the United side this summer, particularly given the fact that funds could be limited and he would solve two problems at once.
Ten Hag wanted him last summer; he could finally get him this summer instead.
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