Erik ten Hag might have just missed his chance to scout Manchester United's ideal summer signing

Whoever Manchester United turn to in a bid to strengthen their armoury this summer, you can guarantee that a lavish amount of money will be spent in the transfer market.

United have a track record of spending big after failing to secure Champions League qualification and new manager Erik ten Hag, who was unveiled to the local, national and international media at an Old Trafford press conference last Monday, has not shirked from the size of the challenge awaiting him this summer. If anything, his decision to fly to Manchester within hours of his Ajax tenure drawing to a close, as opposed to jetting off on holiday for a well-deserved break, highlighted exactly that.

But before he was officially unveiled as United's new boss at an Old Trafford press conference last Monday, the Dutchman took up a watching brief for the Reds' last dance of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, watching their 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park from the stands. It provided him with plenty of evidence about the sheer size of the challenge awaiting him, with United falling to a 12th league defeat of the season.

Not only did the defeat to Palace mark the end of the Ralf Rangnick era, but it also, almost certainly, marked the end of the road for several United players. Big changes are to take place over the coming weeks and months, not least with the expected departures of a handful of big-name players, including Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani. They are all out of contract and are not expected to extend their Old Trafford careers beyond June 30.

Although the time is right for the trio to say their goodbyes, their departures will leave gaps within the squad that will need filling, even though none of them have played as