Manchester United are aware they will not be able to strengthen in every area they would like to this summer, with their summer plans set to be impacted by the uncertain takeover situation.
Work has been underway for months now with regard to the summer window, and it is a fluid process that could see United target different players depending on a number of variables.
Whatever happens, a move for Mason Mount has already been sanctioned, and he could become the club's first summer arrival.
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The Chelsea star will certainly bring extra quality to a United midfield that lacks depth, but in an ideal world Ten Hag would be able to add another top-class talent to his pool of options.
With other priorities lying elsewhere in the squad, it is easier said than done, though. United know they might only be able to sanction one sizeable transfer fee for a midfielder this summer and instead might have to get creative as they look for options.
Kobbie Mainoo will get another chance to impress Ten Hag this summer and is one player who could earn more playing time next season, though it still seems a huge ask for him to play a meaningful role next season at such a young age.
United might need to look further afield, and it could well mean that they are tempted to make another move for Adrien Rabiot, a year after a deal collapsed due to the midfielder’s wage demands.
Ten Hag's side had agreed a £15million fee rising to £20m with Juventus for Rabiot last summer, but sources say the France international wanted an ‘obscene’ salary.
Football director John Murtough flew to Turin in an attempt to close a deal for Rabiot after United agreed a fee with Juve in early August. Rabiot’s mother, Veronique, negotiated on her son’s behalf and was always viewed as a stumbling block in discussions due to her fearsome reputation.
It's hard to see how those demands would have lowered after an impressive campaign in which he netted 11 goals and notched six assists for the Turin side and reached a World Cup final with France.
However, the return to the riches of the Champions League and the fact he wouldn't require a transfer fee could make a deal more appealing this time, as long as he doesn't disrupt the wage structure already in place at the club.
Rabiot might not be a name that gets most fans excited regarding a summer transfer, but he would certainly be a decent alternative to the reserve options already at the club.
He appears to be better suited to Ten Hag's style of play than both Fred and Scott McTominay, and he would bring greater technical ability to the midfield, but at the cost of some impressive physical attributes.
For example, Fred is in the 99th percentile of midfielders across the top-five leagues for blocks and the 97th percentile for tackles. He also ranks highly for interceptions and touches on the ball.
McTominay is in the 99th percentile for clearances and the 98th percentile for winning aerial duels. He also boasts impressive numbers for tackles and touches, but both are below Rabiot in terms of pass completion, progressive passes, and progressive carries.
Rabiot not only boasts a better pass completion rate than the current United duo, but he also beats them for chances created and is well clear in the number of forward passes he makes.
He also beats both of them for touches in the attacking penalty area and is a leader in terms of clearances and winning aerial duels.
There are things that all three players do well, and there are other things that they could all improve on. However, Rabiot is certainly the more technical of the three and still possesses some of the physical traits that the current backup options excel at.
He would not exactly revolutionise the United midfield if he arrived this summer, but he would certainly be a worthwhile option to freshen up the side when required, and he is a lot better suited to a possession-based style of play.
It might be time to brave those transfer talks again.
A Manchester Evening News special souvenir edition - Fergie's First - charts United's 1992/93 title-winning campaign and you can get your hands on one here
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