Everton are in a very precarious position just above the relegation zone.
Years of poor recruitment for high fees has left them with a squad that is disjointed and unable to work as a single unit. The appointment of Frank Lampard does not especially look to have improved matters.
Everton also have one of the hardest run-ins to the end of the season, playing Manchester United (stop sniggering!), Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea along with a number of other high-flying teams, which could leave them struggling to make up the points required for safety.
And this is before the threat of a potential points deduction for breaking the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules, according to a report by the Daily Mail, which would almost certainly confirm their demotion to the Championship for the first time.
Our colleagues at the Liverpool ECHO have refuted these claims, with Everton confident they have not broken the rules and are relaxed by the reports in the national press.
But if they were to go down in any event, are there any gems United can look to try and pick up on the cheap? Well here are three players that could certainly become key parts of the Old Trafford rebuild.
Richarlison
A volatile Brazillian forward, many fans will have at one time or another complained about Richarlison's manner on the field, but his argumentative nature aside, he still is an incredibly talented player.
He has become an attacker who is able to link up the play either on the wing or as a number nine.
Suiting the free-flowing nature of United's attack, Richarlison could start in any position in the front three and rotate into goalscoring and creative positions as the situation allows.
His argumentative and comparative nature also has become part of his game as well. According to FBref he ranks highly in his position for pressures, tackles, interceptions, blocks and clearances, so if United are to continue down the line of pressing intensely from the front he would be a perfect fit.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Calvert-Lewin has only scored one goal from open play so far this season, but this is down to a combination of injuries and a fall in Everton's overall attacking output during Rafael Benitez's doomed tenure - especially the veteran Spaniard's reluctance to play Lucas Digne.
If Everton do go down, Calvert-Lewin should be very high on the list of striker targets to replace Edinson Cavani aT United.
Like Cavani, the England international's movement in the box is one of his biggest strengths and it is something that United have been missing in recent months due to the Uruguayan forward's patchy availability.
And if United were to appoint Erik ten Hag, he would fit the mould perfectly of the type of striker that the Dutchman has found success at Ajax with.
Sebastian Haller is Ten Hag's current number nine and he was the top scorer in the Champions League group stages, so make of that what you will.
Anthony Gordon
Everton don't really have tons of talent to choose from that could step into United's team straight away, but in terms of the future, Anthony Gordon might be a shrewd pick-up if the club's poor financial situation causes them to go into full fire sale mode.
It has been a breakout season for Gordon and, though his output hasn't reflected this fully with only three goals and two assists, he obviously has bags of potential.
The best-case scenario would be for United to sign Gordon and then loan him back to Everton in the Championship, as a gesture of goodwill and for him to get more first-team experience in a much more physical league.
Would you like United to sign any players from Everton if they were to get relegated? Follow our United On My Mind writer Casey Evans on Twitter and get involved in the discussion in the comments section below.
