Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
It was a sensational summer transfer window for Manchester United, the latter's arrival on deadline day was just the icing on the cake. However, as the timeless proverb goes, you can't have your cake and eat it too.
That's something that supporters understandably crave.
Although United made three outstanding signings, performances last season indicated that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needed to sign a specialist defensive midfielder to allow his side to be more expansive and yet no such player arrived at Manchester airport.
The mansion that United use for new signings to quarantine — accommodation which simply wasn't needed in the pre-pandemic world — was used just three times, the rooms were mostly dark and the blinds were often closed.
Solskjaer has continued to persist with the 4-2-3-1 formation, the double pivot and, while United's problems can't just be solely blamed on their inadequacies in midfield, they've been exposed in that area regularly again this term, which is frustrating for fans.
Talks are already under way at Old Trafford about signing a player United could use protect their back four from midfield and the MEN understand Declan Rice has been discussed, albeit he might not be what they need. The West Ham talisman is developing into a box-to-box player.
So, unless something dramatic and unexpected happens in January, it seems like United will go the entirety of this season without a specialist in that position once again.
Although it was clear that United needed to strengthen in midfield, signing a new world-class centre-back was considered the more pressing issue this summer and this explains why Solskjaer moved relatively early to install the framework for a deal for Varane.
It would have been hard for United's rivals to not have been envious of the Reds' deal for Varane; the World Cup winner arrived with an unrivalled CV but there's an interesting question to pose here.
With the benefit of hindsight, would it have been wise to bring in a player of Varane's calibre in midfield instead?
Although there is already enough evidence to suggest the answer to that question would be no — especially because the window of opportunity to sign Varane would have been squandered otherwise — Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly need to make it their personal challenge in the coming weeks to try prove United were wrong with their transfer priorities this summer.
Would you have preferred Varane or a world-class midfielder? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Both Lindelof and Bailly were ultimately deemed not good to help mount a Premier League title charge alongside Harry Maguire, hence the signing of Varane. But those two almost certain starters under Solskjaer are currently sidelined through injury and won't face Leicester this weekend.
Maguire is recovering from a calf injury while United have confirmed that Varane is out for 'a few weeks' with a groin injury
With Maguire and Varane absent, Lindelof and Bailly are set to play in central defence for United's visit to the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon and that's a rare opportunity for both to impress and to state their case for more minutes.
The limitations of the pair at an elite level have already been exposed over the years, however, if they excel in the coming weeks and United continue to struggle in midfield, they could make Old Trafford chiefs regret not strengthening in midfield instead.
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