.jpeg?trim=0,0,0,0&crop=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
But, as Rayan Cherki joins Manchester City for £34m, Manchester United supporters can be forgiven for feeling a touch envious, as the French maestro was on their wishlist as long ago as 2019, when he was a raw 15-year-old.
And Cherki is not the only top European talent who was not pinned down to sign for the Old Trafford side.
Then manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was an outspoken advocate of adding youth to his teams - and explicitly singled out Cherki as a prospect for the future. Having managed Erling Haaland at Molde, where he cut his managerial teeth, he also knew that striker would go on to be a generational talent. Again, United missed out.
Here’s a very decent first 11 - also including England talisman Jude Bellingham - of players that United were linked to in the Solskjaer era. It may be a bit short of width, but there’s talent running through every position. United fans are entitled to look at the line-up and think: “What if.....”
9. Jude Bellingham - AM
Bellingham met Solksjaer, and even visited United's Carrington training ground, but chose Borussia Dortmund over United. Now he needs no introduction - he's a true galactico at Real Madrid. | Getty Images
10. Rayan Cherki - AM
Rayan Cherki was on Solskjaer's radar when he was just 15 at Lyon. In fairness, United were not the only club who had cottoned on to his talent, but Solskjaer's interest was part of his policy of pursuing youth. Cherki starred in this year's Champions League for Lyon - including against United - and has just joined Manchester City. | Getty Images
11. Erling Haaland - CF
Possibly the big one that got away. He was managed by Solskjær at his former club Molde in Norway, and Solskjaer pushed hard for a player he thought - correctly - would be a generational talent. But United were put off by agent Mino Raiola’s buyout clause demands, and he went to Borussia Dortmund instead. Now a Manchester City legend, already with an astonishing goalscoring record. | AFP via Getty Images