Manchester United's goalkeeping scout Tony Coton has revealed that the club look at a player's personality and more before signing them, citing Senne Lammens as an example.
Manchester United's recruitment has been under scrutiny for several years, especially since Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill left the club.
Director of Football Jason Wilcox appears to have improved the transfer strategy since he replaced Dan Ashworth, who was only at Old Trafford for a few months after leaving Newcastle United.
Last summer's transfers of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Šeško and Senne Lammens show United are now searching for Premier League-proven stars, while also continuing their young signing approach.
Before signing for United, very few people had heard of Senne Lammens and preferred the more experienced option of Emiliano Martinez. But United pushed on and chose to sign the young Belgian.
Altay Bayindir continued as the first-choice under Rúben Amorim until the last game before the international break against Sunderland. Lammens not only started but impressed all who watched on, with his composure and calm head at the back - a polar opposite of Andre Onana.
Coton speaks on Lammens' personality
In years gone by, United have signed superstars who don't really fit into the coach's style of play, or even add anything to the squad apart from a god complex, but Lammens is anything but that.
"Obviously, we'd done all the due diligence and everything, and we went to present to him why we think it's the right time to move, and he had interest from a lot of clubs in Europe," said goalkeeping scout Tony Coton on Senne Lammens.
"I just wanted to see his concentration levels, if, when I'm talking, is he looking elsewhere? Is he looking at the video still and this, that, and the other?
"And he was just locked. He was just locked onto me, and I'm thinking, yeah, he's got a real focus."
To many, something as paying attention in a meeting, especially as a young man, wouldn't be an important detail, but to Coton, it was crucial.
Coton has been responsible for the signings of Tim Howard, Ben Foster, Edwin van der Sar, David de Gea and Senne Lammens. Interestingly, he was reportedly not consulted on the Andre Onana deal.
Coton continued: "They [the staff] asked me: 'Could he [Lammens] go straight into the team?' I said: 'Yes. Straight away.'"
United must pursue with Lammens-style deals
Senne Lammens was a surprise signing, but his performances have been like those of an established star who has already made 200 appearances in the Premier League, not one in his first season in the division.
When asked about Lammens' brilliant start, Coton said: "It didn't surprise me," and it wouldn't have done because he did his due diligence.
Coton is just a goalkeeping scout, but perhaps he should be consulted on the transfer approach for outfield players, too.
Jason Wilcox has a big task on his hands this summer, with no new head coach in place just yet, he will be in charge of the recruitment alongside CEO Omar Berrada. Maybe he should look to Coton for some assistance.