Ruben Amorim rubs his hands together as he hosts a Manchester United post-match press conference
Manchester United's summer recruitment plans rest on their Europa League campaign
Currently languishing 13th in the Premier League table, Manchester United know they will have their work cut out just to achieve a top half finish this season.
Twelve defeats in their opening 29 games looks set to see them record their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League era. United recorded their lowest finish since the birth of the Premier League as recently as last season, finishing eighth.
Despite an upturn in results and performances prior to the international break, United still find themselves seven points shy of 10th-placed Bournemouth. It would be impressive if they were to finish above the Cherries.
As a result of United being increasingly likely to finish in the bottom half, immense pressure is resting on their Europa League campaign. Ruben Amorim's side progressed to the quarter-finals earlier this month with a 5-2 aggregate victory over Real Sociedad.
United will resume their European campaign against Lyon in a fortnight's time with the knowledge that winning the Europa League is their only hope of salvaging something from what has otherwise been a forgettable campaign.
Winning the competition will see them clinch a third trophy in as many seasons and, perhaps more importantly, secure a route back into the Champions League. Champions League qualification for the following season is arguably the biggest attraction of winning the Europa League, and United need that added bonus more than ever before.
The club's financial situation means they are going to have to box very clever with their recruitment in what will be Amorim's first summer transfer window at the helm. It is a far from ideal situation for what promises to be such a pivotal summer.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News on Monday, player exits could once again reach double figures this summer, meaning more replacements will be required. United will have long since drawn up a list of priorities for the summer ahead.
But with the club currently in limbo in relation to whether they will be participating in Europe next season or not, it will have some sort of impact on their hopes of laying foundations for the summer early, particularly if United reach the Europa League final towards the end of May.
Man United need to put everything into reaching the Europa League final (Image: Valentin Flauraud/AFP via Getty Images.)
However, just as every football club should, United are planning for all eventualities, with chief executive Omar Berrada confirming earlier this month that plans for each scenario are being putting in place.
"There's no doubt that if we qualify to the Champions League, we will have more revenues and we'll have more capacity to invest in the team," Berrada explained. "But we are putting in place various financial measures to allow us to go and invest at the summer, even if we're outside of Europe."
Mismanagement is something United have been guilty of far too often in recent years, with supporters often pointing out the lack of a plan and a structure amid the club's demise. Under the new regime, however, there is evidence United's short-term and long-term planning is improving.
Qualifying for the Champions League for the 2025/26 season will undoubtedly boost United's coffers and make them a far more attractive option for prospective signings this summer. Players dream of playing in Europe's premier club competition and rubbing shoulders with the continent's best.
United have only played in the Champions League in one of the last three seasons and that saw them bow out of the competition before Christmas. They won just one of their six group games and were eliminated with a paltry four points to their name.
If they are to return to Europe's leading club competition next season, they will do so with the ambition of going deep into the competition. For that to be achievable, though, they are going to have to bolster their squad in several key areas - and that is where the financial benefits of playing in the Champions League would come in.
Man United need to get themselves back into the Champions League as quickly as possible (Image: S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images.)
However, Berrada has already warned that United will not throw caution to the wind if they do make it back into the Champions League, admitting: "So just because we'll have more revenues to invest if we're in the Champions League, it doesn't mean we're going to go and over-invest. We need to be cautious and, and we need to try to make as many good decisions as we can in recruitment."
Sensible recruitment has been lacking at Old Trafford in recent years, often leading to the club paying over the odds for players.
But even with the possibility of Champions League football featuring in their sales pitch this summer, that is unlikely to be the case.