The days of elite clubs signing players solely on the basis of their performances in international tournaments should be long gone.
In today's world, where data is king and due diligence is the bare minimum before making a transfer, three good games on a global stage should not be enough to convince or persuade anyone of anything. The data scientists would say small-sample size,' and they'd be correct.
Manchester United made this mistake in 2014 when they signed Marcos Rojo after Argentina had reached the World Cup final.
Rojo cost Manchester United £16 million and started only 64 Premier League games in six seasons before leaving the club. His signing (and subsequent, inexplicable contract extension) was not United's brightest moment in the transfer market.
But, with a new transfer guru in place, director of football John Murtough, and the wisdom of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer playing a key role in United's recruitment process, the hope is that these errors will not be repeated.
United will undoubtedly be watching the European Championship this summer with interest, but their list of targets should remain unchanged regardless of what happens in the next month or so.
And, to be clear, Jack Grealish would not be in the 'Rojo' bracket at all.
United have long admired Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish; Solskjaer has made no secret of his admiration for the player, and a renewed interest in Grealish this summer would make perfect sense.
It's just a coincidence — and a testament to Grealish's immense talent — that he'll undoubtedly light up Euro 2020 for England this summer, assuming he stays fully fit. Grealish put in another stunning performance for the Three Lions in their 1-0 friendly win over Austria on Wednesday night, putting to rest the doubters who claimed he couldn't make it in international football.
Last summer, the 25-year-old ended speculation linking him with Old Trafford by agreeing to a new Villa contract as United signed Donny van de Beek, but the move is said to appeal to him.
Solskjaer was asked about a possible Grealish transfer in December 2019 and appeared to engage in a friendly exchange with the playmaker following a 2-1 win over Villa in January of this year.
You get the impression that the Norwegian would welcome more reasons to re-enter the market for a player of Grealish's caliber, with the Midlander regarded as the ideal replacement for Paul Pogba if and when the Frenchman leaves Old Trafford.
United should definitely be preparing for a Pogba departure, given that his contract expires in a year and Van de Beek hasn't looked like the heir to the throne so far. For all of his ups and downs at United, it's widely assumed that Pogba will require some replacement.
Grealish, whether for Villa or England, appears to be a Manchester United player. From his on-field swagger to his rolled-up socks and deft flicks, you can tell he wouldn't mind starring at the Theatre of Dreams. He's already done it while wearing a Villa shirt.
The obvious caveat to all of this is the hefty price tag Dean Smith's team would understandably place on Grealish. He is under contract until June 2025, is well-liked by Villa fans, and appears to be a devoted servant of his boyhood club.
But, if the United hierarchy is to give Solskjaer what he wants this summer, Grealish should be at the top of the list, whatever the cost. The Norwegian will have to work hard to get the financial backing he deserves, as well as the players he desires.
Signing Grealish would be a statement of intent, though United might prefer if the player had a quiet summer with England at the Euros. That's a long shot.
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