After a tumultuous 2025/26 campaign, the powers-that-be not only need to decide on which manager they employ full-time in the position, but also which players should be bought and sold.
New manager decision first
Of course, much will depend on where the Red Devils finish in the league, and with seven games left to play this season, Michael Carrick has guided his side into third position.
They are some six points ahead of last season's Premier League champions, Liverpool, who currently occupy fifth spot.
Clearly, the identity of a new manager, or a contract for Carrick if he continues to exceed expectations, has to be the first order of business.
That said, it would be remiss of Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada not to have their fingers in a few pies in terms of transfers.
Long-term Alphonso Davies interest
To that end, news that Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies remains of interest to the Old Trafford outfit could either spell the end of Luke Shaw's time at the club or almost certainly relegate him to second choice.
Tyrell Malacia will leave United at the end of the season, and therefore, competition for places at the very least for the left-back slot is a must.
Given the long-term injuries that Davies keeps succumbing to, however, United's continued monitoring of the player is a bit of a head-scratcher.
Currently out of action with a hamstring injury, the Canadian has also missed games this season through illness and an unspecified injury, which saw him on the sidelines for a month.
Consistent injury problems
Not to mention that since 2020, he's had three separate ankle injuries, three knee injuries, three injuries to his thighs, three unspecified knocks, heart problems, a head injury, a hip problem, and two other unspecified injuries.
In total, he's been out of action for 615 days since 2020 - and counting.
Still only 25 years of age, there's plenty of time left for Davies to grow as a player if he's able to steer clear of injury.
In the much more physical Premier League, there are definitely questions to be asked as to whether the rapid defender would be able to withstand the battering he's likely to take on a weekly basis in the English top flight.
Contract with Bayern until 2030
The player only signed a contract extension with Bayern last year, which takes him up to June 2030. The Bavarian giants don't appear to be rebuffing any courting from the Red Devils or elsewhere, which tells you that they've reached the end of their tether with a player who, when on song, is vital to their way of playing.
The pace and width he gives to the team have allowed him to assist 23 times so far in the Bundesliga, four times in domestic cup games and on nine occasions in the Champions League.
Added to his nine goals in the German top-flight, two in domestic cups and three in the UCL, that's some output for a defender.
Shaw is a much more robust left-back, though he too has had his injury troubles of late.
No more mistakes from the United board
In the same time frame, the England international has had to endure four thigh injuries, four muscle injuries, four unspecified injuries, two separate bouts of illness, a head injury, muscle overload, health problems, two calf injuries, a foot injury, a leg injury and two unspecified knocks.
17 assists and three goals in the Premier League don't compare to Davies, nor the four assists and one goal in domestic cups, and seven assists in European competition.
Perhaps the real issues for Shaw, however, are his age (30), the fact that he's out of contract next summer (so can start negotiating with other clubs in January), and his distinct lack of pace.
For their part, United have made some incredibly poor and short-sighted decisions in the recent past, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his board can't afford any more mistakes, either on or off the pitch.
It's obvious why Davies' skill set is appealing, but it should be equally as obvious as to why Bayern appear reasonably open to moving the player on.
Given that he's unlikely to come cheap either, it surely makes more sense for United to either promote from within their academy or look to an attack-minded left-back in the Davies mould, but a player who can play more than 30 games a season.
