Manchester United could consider Piotr Zielinski instead of Frenkie de Jong (right).

You can be certain that Manchester United will already have plans in place for January and beyond after they have finished the first phase of rebuilding their team's roster over the course of the summer.

United went into the summer transfer window with the knowledge that they needed to make significant adjustments to the lineup for the first-team squad. This realization came on the heels of a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Premier League the previous season, which resulted in them being demoted to the Europa League. They moved swiftly to direct players such as Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, and Edinson Cavani toward the direction of the exit door, thereby clearing the way for new blood to enter the team and signaling the beginning of a new era.

During a summer in which United broke numerous spending records, the club's first-team roster received a total of six new players. From the cost-free acquisition of Christian Eriksen to the eighty-five million pound purchase of Antony, head coach Erik ten Hag made it a priority to bolster as many different aspects of his team as was humanly possible.

Eriksen was brought in to strengthen United's midfield options, but for a long time, it appeared that Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong would be their statement signing in the engine room. This was despite the fact that Eriksen was brought in. United were forced to admit defeat in their efforts, and instead turned to Casemiro of Real Madrid, despite the fact that his profile is very different to that of the former Ajax midfielder. Despite the fact that they pursued his signature for more than a hundred days and actually agreed on a fee for the Netherlands international, United were forced to admit defeat in their efforts.

Ten Hag, who played with De Jong during his time at Ajax, expressed interest in reuniting with the 25-year-old at Old Trafford due to the latter's forward-thinking and proactive playing style. Although just about everyone else associated with United believed that a defensive-minded midfielder was a greater necessity, he was considered the player that was absolutely necessary for his team to function properly.

Because of the manner in which United plays under Ten Hag, it is abundantly clear that the Dutchman wants them to be on the front foot and dictate games. This is the reason why he was so eager to recruit De Jong, who is known for getting on the ball between the lines, driving forward, and making things happen. Casemiro, on the other hand, is a player who takes up a deep position, eliminates any threat that may still be present, and plays the dirty side of the game.

Casemiro, who is already 30 years old, may have world-class quality, but he is not a long-term solution for United. Instead, he is a short-term fix, and some people question whether or not Ten Hag wanted him given the speed with which his move to Old Trafford was completed. Because of this, there is a widespread belief that new ties connecting De Jong to United will emerge either in January or during the summer of the following year.

The international player for the Netherlands recently made it clear that he only ever wanted to stay at Barcelona during the summer, which may have planted a dagger in any hopes that United might have of trying their luck again next year. Piotr Zielinski, the star player for Napoli, is a player that the Reds should pay close attention to if they decide to pursue De Jong or another player of a comparable caliber in the future.

The Poland national, who is three years older than De Jong, is the same kind of player as the Dutchman in the sense that he likes to get on the ball in the No. 8 position, drive forward, and dictate games. He is also an international player for Poland. He has already made an outstanding start to this season in Naples, where he plays for, as he has recorded four goals and six assists in just 13 games played.