When Manchester United travel to Everton on Saturday lunchtime, they will line up against a player they wished was rearing the red of United rather than the blue of their hosts.
It was well documented that United were desperate to sign England international defender Jarrad Branthwaite and saw two bids rejected for the 22-year-old in the summer.
Offers of £35million and £50million were rejected out of hand as Everton held out for a bid in the region of £70million and ultimately United decided not to pursue a move.
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Instead, teenager Leny Yoro and Dutch international centre-half Matthijs De Ligt made the move to Old Trafford for a combined £90million and their interest in Branthwaite was parked until at least this summer.
Addressing United's interest in him earlier this year, Branthwaite said: "I think for any player it’s difficult when you’ve got interest and you know it’s solid interest," he said in Everton's match-day programme before last month's 0-0 draw against Chelsea.
"But, for me, I just try to focus on myself and what I can affect - and that was the performances every day in training and the performances on the pitch.
"If I perform well then it’s good for me and the team. So I think that’s the main thing for me. I don’t get too dragged into it all. I just keep focused on what I can do and what I can affect, really, and that’s the way I’ll keep doing it."
Branthwaite has continued to go from strength to strength at Goodison Park and has struck up an excellent partnership with fellow England international James Tarkowski.
After Sean Dyche was sacked as Toffees boss, former United manager David Moyes has returned to the Everton hotseat and he has made an incredible start to his second stint in charge.
Moyes has won four, drawn one, and lost one of his first six Premier League matches in charge as Everton have not only moved 13 points clear of the relegation zone, but have also moved ahead of United in the league table.
Branthwaite's performances have been instrumental in that and now he will look to help Everton beat United to put a four point gap between the two sides.
And while he insists he will only concentrate on factors he can affect, he will quietly be determined to prove to United they were right to covet his transfer last summer by plotting their downfall on Merseyside on Saturday.
