Since appointing Dutchman and former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag as their manager, Manchester United have signed eight players who have spent time in the Eredivisie at some point of their careers.
What can we say? The man knows what he likes.
There have been varying degrees of success among these players, but most of them have yet to prove their worth at Old Trafford. Some of them (I don't want to name names, but it's Antony) have been a disastrous allocation of funds that could have instead been used as a charitable donation or to help our flailing public services.
The tremendous impact of Mohammed Kudus - who even played under Ten Hag at Ajax, for crying out loud - at West Ham United proves there are still gems left to discover in the Eredivisie.
If Ten Hag is to shop in his homeland again, who should he look to bring in? We have some ideas.
Johan Bakayoko
- Club: PSV Eindhoven
- Position: Winger
- Age: 20
- Estimated cost: £50m
A PSV Eindhoven side managed by Peter Bosz have won 17 and drawn one of their 18 Eredivisie games so far this season. Yeah, weird.
Key to this title challenge has been the form of left-footed right winger Johan Bakayoko, who has registered six goals and 13 assists in 30 games for his club this term.
The Belgium international turned down a move to Brentford at the end of the summer transfer window but now seems primed and ready for a blockbuster move.
Jorrel Hato
- Club: Ajax
- Position: Defender
- Age: 17
- Estimated cost: £40m
Though he doesn't turn 18 until March, Jorrel Hato has stepped up and carried a considerable defensive load for a struggling Ajax this season.
Already captaining the senior side twice, Hato was drafted into the first-team setup as a long-term replacement for Jurrien Timber following his move to Arsenal.
The defender, capable of playing at centre-back and left-back, has since been linked with his own transfer to the Emirates Stadium, but he certainly would suit Ten Hag's vision at United.
Brian Brobbey
- Club: Ajax
- Position: Striker
- Age: 21
- Estimated cost: £45m
After initially being sold by Ten Hag to RB Leipzig in 2021, Brian Brobbey has put up some phenomenal numbers since returning to Ajax.
The striker has grabbed 36 goals in 83 games since rejoining during the final six months of Ten Hag's reign at the Johan Cruyff Arena. This season alone, Brobbey's scored 15 goals in 26 matches, including eight since the start of December.
It's worth United's time trying to find a senior alternative to Rasmus Hojlund, but Brobbey would be worth a punt if they want another long-term option.
Santiago Gimenez
- Club: Feyenoord
- Position: Striker
- Age: 22
- Estimated cost: £55m
Speaking of young strikers worth bringing in to rival Hojlund, Santiago Gimenez is among the world's best up-and-coming forwards who will almost certainly be on the move in the next few months.
Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur have already been heavily linked with a move for the Mexican, while a stream of others are likely to follow in their footsteps. If United do like Gimenez, they should probably speed up any planned pursuit.
Quinten Timber
- Club: Feyenoord
- Position: Midfielder
- Age: 22
- Estimated cost: £35m
There are a few reasons why signing Quinten Timber would be worthwhile to United. The funniest of those is simply to deny Arsenal the chance to pair up a set of twins.
Beyond that, Ten Hag could do with another jack-of-all-trades midfielder in his squad, especially one who still has a youthful mobility about him.
Lutsharel Geertruida
- Club: Feyenoord
- Position: Defender
- Age: 23
- Estimated cost: £30m
United need a new right-back. They also need a new centre-back. They need younger players in both departments, ideally.
Lutsharel Geertruida, who was close to signing for recruitment kings RB Leipzig last summer, would fill both holes in the Red Devils' setup. It makes too much sense for United to actually go through with this one.
Mats Wieffer
- Club: Feyenoord
- Position: Midfielder
- Age: 24
- Estimated cost: £35m
If any Feyenoord fans happen to be reading this, sorry for trying to gut your squad. You just have a lot of promising players, alright?
Mats Wieffer's form at the heart of Arne Slot's midfield has seen him linked with Barcelona, Juventus and Fulham. With United in need of a new long-term option there if Casemiro leaves, it's a surprise he hasn't been on their radar to this point.
