Manchester United's potential return to the Champions League after a two-year absence would mark a significant achievement for Michael Carrick's side, but it also presents complex decisions regarding the futures of two key players currently on loan.
With a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Chelsea and only five matches remaining, United are in a strong position to secure European football's premier competition. A draw at Stamford Bridge on Saturday would leave them needing just 10 points from their final five games to clinch qualification.
However, this success would force the club to address the situations of goalkeeper Andre Onana and forward Marcus Rashford, both spending this season away from Old Trafford.
"You don't need to go searching for trouble in this game. Trouble will find you soon enough," former manager Sir Alex Ferguson once remarked about managing Manchester United's challenges.
Onana, whose contract runs until 2028, joined Turkish side Trabzonspor in September after making just one first-team appearance for United this season. The £47.2 million signing from Inter Milan has started 26 matches for his loan club, who currently sit third in the Turkish league and have reached the quarter-finals of the Turkish Cup.
Meanwhile, Rashford has been featuring for Barcelona since July, having been excluded from Ruben Amorim's first-team plans at United. The England international has made 26 appearances in La Liga, scoring six goals, and came off the bench in Barcelona's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid this week.
Both players are performing reasonably at their temporary clubs, but their long-term futures remain uncertain as United contemplate their squad composition for a potential Champions League campaign. The club must decide whether to reintegrate these talents or seek permanent solutions elsewhere as they prepare for European football's highest level.