Erik ten Hag's rebuild at Manchester United is already beginning to take shape.
After a rocky start which saw United lose to Brighton and Brentford but then also suffer a 6-2 loss to Manchester City a few weeks later, the Dutchman's tactics are starting to take hold. And the signings the club made in the summer are also starting to show their class.
Lisandro Martinez is fast becoming a cult hero among the fan base, while Casemiro and Christian Eriksen are forming a formidable midfield. Antony is also gaining plaudits for how he has finally given United the right winger they have been crying out for.
Read next: Ronaldo was right about Martinez and Casemiro
But there is still room to improve the squad and Ten Hag will be on the lookout for talent that will raise the ceiling of his United side. In this way, the World Cup presents a unique scouting opportunity.
Both Enzo Fernandez and Cody Gakpo have been linked with a move to Old Trafford over the past few months. The Argentinian to support United's midfield and Gakpo to add some goals to the attack, especially after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Throughout the tournament, the duo have impressed and now any United fan who hasn't had a chance to watch them, will be able to watch them both in Argentina and the Netherlands' quarter-final match-up.
Fernandez has been deployed in multiple roles so far, including as the defensive midfielder sitting just in front of the centre-backs. However, the midfielder thrives further forward and there is a chance that manager Lionel Scaloni plays him further forward to put pressure on Frenkie de Jong.
Gakpo has also been deployed in multiple roles. He has been used in a strike partnership but also as the number 10 behind the forwards.
The latter seems to be Gakpo's best role, not because he plays the position of the number 10, but because it allows him to make secondary runs into space and exploit defences. Playing further forward also exposed the PSV attacker's weakness when it comes to holding the ball up.
Overall, both could be serious upgrades to this United side and if you have your doubts, hopefully fans will be able to witness an exciting quarter-final where both players shine.
Related stories:
