Jose Mourinho returns to Old Trafford with Tottenham on Sunday and could be forgiven for raising a wry smile at a situation he knows only too well.
Manchester United are once again in the throes of a transfer scramble at the end of a window with just three days to go until Monday's deadline.
Mourinho's frustration at the board two years ago contributed to a toxic atmosphere before his sacking, and he will have taken satisfaction in Spurs beating his old club to the signings of Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon from Real Madrid.