Manchester United have committed an extensive catalogue of transfer mistakes over the past decade, but they can take some comfort from knowing they weren't responsible for the worst transfer decision in the Premier League during that time.
Angel Di Maria, Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba are just a few examples, that's without mentioning Alexis Sanchez and his cringe-inducing unveiling playing the piano, but those mistakes weren't as grievous as Chelsea giving Kevin De Bruyne just eight games at the club before selling him to Wolfsburg for £18m. De Bruyne has since made a mockery of Chelsea's miscalculated assessment.
Chelsea deemed De Bruyne not good enough and yet he's been among the world's top three midfielders for most (if not all) of the seven years he's spent at Manchester City. United are all too familiar with De Bruyne's quality. He's an architect under Pep Guardiola.
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“I decided to go away because I felt I didn’t have any chances of playing at the time," De Bruyne explained last year. “I didn’t see more opportunities coming so for me, it was the best decision to leave Chelsea and go to a situation where I felt I could start again.
“Did I expect it to go this way? Obviously not because at that time it was a low point in my career, but I never had any doubt in my abilities as a football player. I can't think what is going to happen eight years down the line. It’s wonderful.”
De Bruyne's career looked to have taken a backwards step when Chelsea made the decision to sell him, but his move to the Bundesliga was actually the making of him. There's a lesson in that for United and their recruitment this summer.
The perception was that De Bruyne had failed but he was only getting started. Chelsea have never been known for their patience and they've regularly sold young players that retain vast potential because of their short-term priorities. That has never been the United way and it's something the club could now take advantage of — just like City did with De Bruyne in 2015.
Chelsea signed Lukaku for £97.5m last summer and Tammy Abraham was moved on to Roma to make way for the Belgian. Lukaku has scored 14 goals this season while Abraham has 25 to his name. Lukaku has regressed to the player United fans are familiar with, while Abraham has enjoyed an excellent debut season in Serie A. Abraham has enjoyed the last laugh in the sun of the Italian capital.
It has been another victory for the 'Chelsea rejects'. Abraham is playing the best football of his career under Jose Mourinho and he's been linked with a move to United. Erik ten Hag could do much worse than starting his revolution by signing Abraham.
Abraham is perceived to have failed at Chelsea but that shouldn't dampen enthusiasm about him now. He's enjoying a stellar campaign with Roma and he sent his side to the Europa League conference final last week with a stunning header against Leicester.
That goal meant Abraham became the first English player to reach 25 goals in Europe's top five leagues this season. Abraham's finishing has seemingly improved with every month at Roma and he simply looks reborn away from Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old recently admitted it was Mourinho's 'vision' that persuaded him to swap London for Rome. Ten Hag will arrive at United with his own vision to rebuild United and Abraham could play a pivotal role in restoring United to where they should be.
It's believed Roma have no intention of selling Abraham and that the player is happy playing in Serie A, but it's possible that a return to England, an offer to become United's No.9, could tempt him into assessing his future.
United are in the market for a centre forward and he could be exactly what they need.
Abraham is clearly more than a Chelsea reject.
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