For a club the size of Manchester United, the focus, more often than not, is about the here and now.
There is always a constant clamour, rightly so, for immediate success and for trophies to be won. Considering that United drafted in the likes of Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer, the fans have every right to except to be winning football matches week-in, week-out and competing for silverware.
Whilst that is key for United, who suffered a second defeat in their last three Premier League outings on Saturday, going down 4-2 to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, any club always has to look to the future as well, whether it be one year, five years or ten years down the line. Any club also has to be open to sudden changes that may occur, regardless of how big or small they may be.
Whilst every United fan around the world, understandably, was struggling to contain themselves with excitement during the summer transfer window as Sancho arrived, then Varane and finally, just when you thought the club had done enough, Ronaldo checked in, United may have completed two of the best transfer decisions they made all summer long - and they came in the form of departures.
Tahith Chong left United on a season-long loan deal to join Birmingham City, before Ethan Laird followed suit by dropping down into the second-tier, joining Swansea City, also on loan for the duration of the 2021/22 campaign. Both players had been sent out on temporary deals in the past by United, but not to Championship clubs. Temporary moves to the Championship, as soon as each deal was announced, seemed like sensible plans.
No shortage of players in recent years have learnt their trade in the second-tier before being unleashed into the pressure cooker of the Premier League. To name just a few, Mason Mount of Chelsea, United goalkeeper Dean Henderson and even Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane have all benefited from spending time on loan in the Championship in the past. It is one of the toughest and most intensive leagues in the world and requires high levels of effort, concentration and mentality to not look out place.
So far, Chong and Laird have looked right at home.
Chong joined Birmingham in the hope of spicing up their attack. Although the Blues are currently experiencing a tricky patch, the Dutchman has been excellent, so much so that some Birmingham fans, perhaps jokingly, thought he should he be nominated for the Ballon d'Or after pulling Luton Town apart in a 5-0 demolition in August. A number of Blues fans, too, have also admitted that he is very best player they have ever seen pull on a Birmingham shirt. If that doesn't tell you just how well received he has been by the Birmingham supporters, nothing will.
Although he is yet to score for Birmingham, his performances have been excellent, earning him praise time and again from manager Lee Bowyer. As well as that, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer vowed to keep a close eye on him at the time of his exit. For United's sake, let's hope he continues to do so.
Across the border in Wales, Laird, reunited with Russel Martin at the Swansea.com Stadium after spending time with the Swans boss at MK Dons on loan last season, is also making a name for himself, with his performance in the 3-0 victory over Cardiff City on Sunday impressive to say the very least. Operating as a right wing-back against the Bluebirds, Laird was a threat all afternoon. His constant runs from the back were too hot for Cardiff to handle. His performance did not feature characteristics of a 20-year-old sampling the taste of a heated, passionate South Wales derby for the first time. Instead, it featured ones of an experienced player who knew how to handle himself on such a big occasion.
But it wasn't just Laird's showing against Cardiff that has been impressive. He has been a regular top performer for Swansea this season, so far making 11 appearances in league and cup, grabbing two assists, even though it could be considered as three with just how big a role he played in the Swans' third goal on Sunday.
Considering United were looking at bringing in a new right-back in the summer to provide competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Laird's performances at Swansea could force United into rethinking that plan. At just 20-years-old, Laird, though he still has a lot to learn, is showing signs of promise, so much so that he could save United a small fortune on a right-back in the future.
Whilst it is important to point out that both Chong and Laird are young and still learning on the job, United's decision to send them both out on loan and into a league as competitive and unforgiven as the Championship could prove to be a masterstroke, giving the club two hugely beneficial long-term gains.
Their successes could force United's hand to repeat the trick with other youngsters showings signs of promise.
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