There could well be yet another twist in Manchester United's pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, amid reports that the Old Trafford outfit could make another late attempt to extract the midfielder from Barcelona.
What's the word?
According to Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan, via the Daily Express, the Red Devils could well push again to sign the 25-year-old before the September deadline, with manager Erik ten Hag said to have been handed additional funds in order to bolster his ailing squad.
The Premier League side had struck a reported €85m (£72m) agreement with the Catalan giants for the Netherlands international back in July, albeit with the player's perceived reluctance to leave the Camp Nou, as well as a monetary dispute with his current side, having hampered United's chances of striking a deal on personal terms.
The suggestion is that the club's initial bid has now expired such has been the long-running nature of this tiresome saga, albeit with the La Liga side still likely to need to offload the playmaker due to their ongoing financial woes.
Imagine him and Casemiro
That latest report will no doubt serve as something of a shock to supporters, with the suggestion having been that the club's recent £70m capture of Real Madrid man Casemiro was a marker of the end of their De Jong pursuit.
If Van der Kraan is to be believed, there could be the prospect of the two men lining up together in the centre of the park come the start of September, with the two former El Clasico foes potentially the figures who can end the ongoing nightmare at the Theatre of Dreams.
At present, the midfield department remains an area in desperate need of major surgery, with the much-maligned partnership of Scott McTominay and Fred still playing far too prominent a role in the starting XI, having been dubbed "not good enough" by club legend, Roy Keane.
Replacing that pairing with a midfield axis of De Jong and Casemiro would surely spark a drastic change in fortunes for Ten Hag and co, with two players of such genuine quality likely to be a real upgrade on the current options.
In the case of the latter man, the Brazilian powerhouse should finally solve the longstanding issue at the club that has been the lack of an out-and-out holding midfield player, with the 30-year-old the destructive presence that the side is in desperate need of.
The five-time Champions League winner notably ranks in at least the top 10% for tackles made, blocks, clearances and aerial duels won among those in his position across Europe's top five leagues, showcasing his defensive prowess.
While the former Porto man will be the figure to shore up United's shoddy defence - which has already shipped six goals this season - it will fall upon De Jong to add that creative spark alongside him, with the 5 foot 11 ace set to be the man to initiate attacks from deep.
The highly-rated "genius" - as described by current boss Xavi Hernandez - is a true master at driving his side forward from his central midfield berth, as he ranks in the top 7% for progressive carries made per 90.
Not just a talent who can turn defence into attack in an instant with a surging, breakaway charge, the 44-cap sensation can also feed his forward line expertly with a defence-splitting pass, as rubberstamped by his rank in the top 6% for progressive passes received.
Having also been likened to Casemiro's now ex-Madrid teammate Luke Modric, as per FBref, it would appear that the two men can dovetail beautifully together in Manchester moving forward, with the potential added expense of another high-profile addition set to prove worth it.
Sporting director and transfer chief John Murtough could potentially have another trick up his sleeve...