In exactly six weeks' time the security staff at Carrington will wave through the 4x4s and sports cars. Those behind the wheel will turn right towards the Jimmy Murphy Centre and take a left into the first-team car park.
Some of the Manchester United players who enter the main building through the rear might feel like that protagonist from Grand Theft Auto: "Here we go again."
United's best player of the last five years is about to enter the last year of his contract, their most marketable player is pining for a move to Madrid and their record signing has had his head turned by the Italian clubs. Even small fry like Matteo Darmian would rather not return to Carrington. United doubtless prefer Alexis Sanchez never returns.
August 8 is the official deadline for Premier League clubs' transfer window dealings but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has set the ambitious cut-off of July 1: "The earlier you can do the transfers, the better it is," Solskjaer said after the Cardiff defeat. "Because when you come on July 1, you want to have a nice picture of what this team is going to be looking like."
That idealism is a naive misstep by a manager whose sole high-profile window was blemished by recruiting his agent's clients.
Naive for United have just finished sixth with their worst defensive performance in 40 years and their poorest form in over half a century. It would be remiss to spend the best part of six weeks dormant when they have struggled to sell players profitably in recent years and failed to sign two priority targets last year. Oh, and the structure remains unchanged.
Even in United's best window in 2007 Owen Hargreaves did not play on their pre-season tour of Asia and Carlos Tevez and Anderson were not declared match-fit for the league opener against Reading. Paul Pogba's return was confirmed on the day of the Community Shield three years ago. Even Lee Grant arrived on July 3.
How Vincent Kompany was targeted by Manchester United great Sir Alex Ferguson
Senior club sources spoke about accelerating transfer plans in the wake of Solskjaer's permanent appointment on March 28. 'Super-charge' was the buzz phrase and, given United practically clinched deals for Diogo Dalot and Fred in May of last year, millions will have the United Twitter account's notification alerts switched on in anticipation of an announcement of someone, anyone.
United are in a desperate situation but cannot resort to desperation. Time will tell whether they have identified the appropriate targets and, with other European league seasons ongoing, certain players of interest are only just considering offers and/or deciding on their futures.
Where United finished and when they were due to start the next campaign (City's shellacking of Watford has secured United group stage entry in the Europa League) is believed to have delayed progress with certain targets. Money may matter to players but so does stability and quality. Both are lacking at United.
Manchester United are being used in the transfer window again
They do not have an eminent manager or coach to attract top-tier players, either. A United player stressed the importance of Champions League qualification to entice targets in a video interview last month and the broadcaster was asked to cut his answer.
Just consider Matthijs de Ligt's situation: Should he, hypothetically, prefer a Premier League move over Barcelona and have offers from City and United he would be certifiable to choose United. De Ligt is so perfect for United - his age, his quality, his leadership - he would be a perfect project for a director of football to sell the club's vision to him. And United still do not have one of those.
De Ligt will also remember how United vetoed a move for him before he made his Ajax debut. They have not rectified that short-sightedness and City are already poised to oversee a serene transition of phasing out their three greatest players over the next three summers.
Here we go again.
Vincent Kompany and the Manchester United best XI of signings that got away from Sir Alex Ferguson
