Manchester United and reports of their interest in Barcelona superstar Neymar was ridiculed by many on Twitter recently, but it could be Ed Woodward who has the last laugh, with BBC's South American football correspondent, Tim Vickery, claiming a move could materialise in a season or two.
Woodward has been running helter skelter looking to make that big-name signing, the kind that makes a statement, especially after letting Angel Di Maria leave for PSG after just one season.
However, moves for the likes of Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid's Gareth Bale haven't quite materialised yet, despite Manchester United putting up obscene amounts of money, with Neymar, someone who falls into that same category as well.
There is still hope of Manchester United completing a move for Neymar, though, just not in this summer transfer window.
"Clearly it's not going to happen now for a number of reasons," Vickery told talkSPORT.
"Firstly, Barcelona have just sold Pedro [to Chelsea].
"Secondly, they can't buy anyone because they've still got this suspension hanging over them. But you just wonder if United are playing the long-term game here."
Vickery feels Neymar could tire playing second fiddle to Lionel Messi, which would allow Manchester United to swoop in.
"At the moment Neymar is very happy where he is but he's in the shadow of Lionel Messi," Vickery added. "That's fine for now but if it's still the case in one or two years' time, he might want to go somewhere where he's going to be the big number one.
"England is obviously a potential in a year or two years' time. That's the game I think United are playing -- establishing an interest, making it clear that they really want this player and are prepared to pay big money."
Even if Wayne Rooney struck a nice hat-trick in the Champions League playoff against Club Brugge, there is little doubt that Manchester United could use a potent striker, someone who can help reduce the burden on the club captain.
