One perhaps surprising link comes in the form of former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian spent five impressive years on Merseyside, catching the attention of Barcelona who spent a hefty £140 million to take the player to Spain.
Things haven't quite worked out however, with the player sent out on loan to Bayern Munich earlier this season and seemingly surplus to requirements at the Camp Nou.
Given he had his best years in England, a return to the Premier League seems the obvious choice for the 27-year-old, and it is here the United talk has emerged.
It has been no secret in recent years that an attack-minded midfielder has been high on the list of priorities at Old Trafford which is why on paper, Coutinho might have made sense.
However, the recent initial £46 million acquisition of Bruno Fernandes and the Portuguese star's electric start in Red, with three goals and four assists in just nine games in all competitions, would suggest United have already filed the creative role Coutinho could occupy.
That's not to say both players couldn't be accommodated in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, however.
But the club are instead targeting the likes of midfielder Jack Grealish of Aston Villa and Leicester City star James Maddison, with Coutinho highly unlikely to be brought in.
This season, Coutinho has eight Bundesliga goals and six assists which is virtually the same as Grealish's seven and six playing for a far inferior team. And at three years younger, the Villa man fits the profile of United's desire to sign younger talent who can develop.
That's not to say United are strangers to bringing in big names but given how the failings of Alexis Sanchez and the decision to part ways with Romelu Lukaku, not to mention the ongoing debate over Paul Pogba's merit to the team, it is an area that the club will approach with some caution going forward.
Coutinho seemed a great fit in the Liverpool line-up - 54 goals and 45 assists in all competitions is not to be sniffed at - but it can't have gone unnoticed how much the club have improved since his departure.
The individual talent is naturally there but how this fits into a specific system is open to debate, further evidenced by the fact he was unable to hit similar heights in Spain at Barcelona.
At Bayern, while he has found some form, he lacks the technical ability of Thiago and the dynamism and defensive capabilities of Leon Goretzka, meaning he again struggles to find a home in the midfield.
Coutinho is a versatile player and often had some of his best games for Liverpool coming off the wing, but United would be better served trying to secure the signing of a younger, more productive player to fill that role. Say, a Jadon Sancho perhaps?
The young England winger's incredible return of 17 goals and 19 assists in all competitions this campaign has made him a top transfer target for the Reds.
Even as a back-up option should that move not happen, for all his ability, Coutinho doesn't possess the pace of Sancho in order for United to play the way Solskjaer is thought to be planning.
For Coutinho, a summer move could very much be on the cards, either on loan or permanently, however, turning up at United would not be the best option for either party.
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