Erik ten Hag's first season with Manchester United is over.
After an awful start and that 4-0 defeat to Brentford, the Red Devils achieved way more than anyone really could have expected; a return to the Champions League via a third-place finish in the Premier League, an FA Cup final and even an EFL Cup trophy win. Most fans would have taken the first part of that sentence alone before the season.
Ten Hag managed it without a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose January exit threatened to throw the team off track, but in reality, it eradicated an overbearing problem that was always heading for disaster.
United didn't sufficiently replace their iconic forward, though—bringing in Wout Weghorst on loan—which is a wrong that now has to be made right.
Here, we rank five names currently linked with the Red Devils and begin chipping away at who makes the most sense. It's going to be a long summer, with lots of rumours and potentially a financial takeover.
Despite United's successful year, the 2-1 FA Cup final loss to Manchester City acted as a reminder that there's a huge chasm between the two squads and their attacking options. Who could begin to fix that? Let's take a look.
5. Rasmus Højlund: Atalanta
On the surface, United's links to Rasmus Højlund seem a little too convenient.
He is touted as the next Erling Haaland, his homeland of Denmark is close to Haaland's Norway, and he has some similar attributes to Manchester City's prolific striker that make him an exciting prospect at just 20 years old.
Social media wants to dub Højlund as the next sensation and whether or not it turns out to be true, he'd be a useful pick-up for United.
It may seem unflattering, but the Atalanta star's style isn't too far away from Weghorst; or at least, what Ten Hag hoped he'd get from the Dutchman when he swooped for the January loan. He is tall, physical and capable of linking play well.
Although Weghorst initially worked extremely hard for United when he first arrived, that was no longer a noticeable trait after he was dropped at the beginning of April. At 10 years his junior, Højlund's energy wouldn't dissipate so quickly, an important attribute when combined with his clever movement in the box, something Weghorst rarely showed.
With eight goals and two assists in 31 Serie A appearances this season, it's important to remember Højlund is still very much a work in progress.
A strong coach like Ten Hag could mold him well, but his arrival wouldn't immediately fill the gap United need to plug and could still leave the club needing more.