Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho more than stated his intentions upon his arrival at Old Trafford last summer, spending the best part of £150m on messrs Pogba, Bailly and Mkhitaryan, as well as splashing out big wages on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
There was a sense that, in spending like a teenager of FIFA, Mourinho was taking United back to the level of stardom that they should have always occupied.
After a mixed season under the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager, the red half of Manchester will be expecting more next season and thus look set for a similar summer of big deals, with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Antoine Griezmann persistently linked.
Another name which could well crop up time and again this summer could be that of Benfica defender Nelson Semedo.
The 23-year-old was linked with a late January move to Old Trafford, along with centre-half Victor Lindelof, although nothing materialised in the end.
Off the back of such rumours things went a little quite as attention turned once again to affairs on the pitch. However, with the number of weeks left until the end of the season shrinking at an alarming rate, rumours are once again appearing that Mourinho could make a move for the Portugal international.
Whilst the attraction in terms of the right-back’s perspective would be clear, the chance to play at one of the biggest clubs in the world under the most famous manager to emerge from his country, it is also a deal that would make a lot of sense for United.
At 23 the two-cap international is a mainstay for Benfica with 41 appearances under his belt, in all competitions, this season having been taken off in just two of those games all season.
Furthermore, his style of play looks to be something which could suit United. The full-back, brought up in Lisbon just north of Mourinho’s birthplace (Setubal), whilst proficient in the basics of his position, also loves to get involved on the break with two goals and ten assists from his 41 outings so far.
Portugal has become a hotbed of young talent in recent years, with the top leagues in Europe slowly beginning to benefit from their talented youngsters. It has become commonplace for many Premier League clubs to have a scout stationed at most games in the top flight this season.
Should United get a deal across the line, with the future of Matteo Darmian up in the air and Antonio Valencia not getting any younger, Mourinho could be well on his way that defensive overhaul he has claimed is on the horizon.