Ralf Rangnick is gearing up for his first transfer window at Manchester United and will be looking to lay foundations ahead of his potential consultancy role in the summer.
The rumour mill continues to link United with a number of players but the early names mentioned in connection with a move to Old Trafford hint at a change in tact from Rangnick and how the club will operate moving forwards.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spent an average of £34.5 million per signing according to figures presented by Transfermarkt, and while there have been successes in the form of Bruno Fernandes, it's fair to say the jury remains very much out on the likes of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Donny van de Beek among others, deals which have totalled over £275m.
Those same figures suggest the Norwegian overspent by more than £5m for six of his eight signings, averaging an overspend of £11.82 million.
The two players Solskjaer is not claimed as having paid over the odds for were, ironically, Van de Beek and Alex Telles - both of whom were on the fringes of the Norwegian's first-team squad for the majority of his tenure at Old Trafford.
And while the blame should not lie entirely at the door of Solskjaer for United's long-standing reputation of failing to get bang for their buck, the German's first rumoured targets are hinting at a change that will help safeguard the club from similar transfer market errors.
Rangnick has been linked with a handful of players but many of whom are valued at far lower market valuations which, naturally, reduces the overall outlay on targets. Given United do hold interest in Erling Haaland, as MEN Sport confirmed, the need for smarter buys elsewhere around the squad will be paramount if they are to continue pursuing blue-chip players like the Dortmund superstar.
Three players who have been consistently linked with the club in recent weeks - Amadou Haidara, Julian Alvarez and Tyler Adams - have a cumulative market value of just £57.6m, according to Transfermakrt. MEN Sport have previously revealed that Haidara is a player of interest to United ahead of the January transfer window.
Rangnick has worked with two of that trio previously while Alvarez is the kind of starlet United should be picking up as a byproduct of smart scouting before their price skyrockets; with Haaland an example of the price to pay once they have already made their name in Europe's top five leagues.
That interest in Haaland confirms United's intention to continue making big-money signings in the future but the German looks to have already made his mark on the club with a new vision that appreciates players who could seamlessly slot into the tactical makeup of the side.
Haidara is known by Rangnick and worked well together during their time at RB Leipzig and the 23-year-old is unlikely to command as high a fee as some of the other targets.
Alvarez is a young, promising striker, who again, is unlikely to demand an exorbitant fee but the 21-year-old is someone that would fit Rangnick's gegenpressing philosophy.
Then, you have Tyler Adams who is someone the United boss specifically signed during his time at Leipzig and would also unlikely warrant a large fee, yet would still slot into United's system in multiple positions.
The perception of what makes an attractive signing looks to be the subject of immediate and gradual change at Old Trafford and the early rumoured targets offer an encouraging start on that front.
If you had to make one shrewd signing in January what would it be? Follow our United On My Mind trends writer Jake Stokes and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
