Just this month. It came out of the blue. Mijat Gacinovic. Manchester United. And that Vienna trip made by Jose Mourinho...
With little warning - at least in the English press. The United manager took in Serbia's World Cup qualifier against Austria with the purpose of running his eye over the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder.
But this is no sudden fascination. Well, maybe for Mourinho, but not for those involved at the pointy end of United's scouting, their interest in Gacinovic has been a slow burn. Over two years - if we're counting.
In Frankfurt, Mourinho's very public interest came as no surprise. After a shaky start to his Bundesliga career, Gacinovic was at times outstanding for Eintracht last season. From a trickle to a flood, enquiries for the 22 year-old midfielder grew over the summer to the point where Eintracht chose to extend his contract from 2019 to 2021.
"I feel very comfortable in Frankfurt," declared Gacinovic after putting pen to paper. "It's a nice feeling when in the Club you have confidence. I hope to continue to help the team and together we can celebrate many successes."
However, the decision from Eintracht's board was more about maximising Gacinovic's sale value than any long-term thoughts for coach Niko Kovac's first team. Axel Hellmann, the club's CEO, conceded as much just last month.
"Gacinovic has a great future ahead of him," said Hellmann. "He's done very well for the national team and now is the main man in the Bundesliga.
"He's a great example of how valued development can work. This offers great opportunities for both of us in the future."
A future which could lead to Old Trafford, where Nemanja Matic has spoke highly of Gacinovic to Mourinho. However, he was only reinforcing over two years of scouting reports put together by United's talent spotters.
It was with Vojvodina that Gacinovic first came to the attention of United. The Premier League giants had fast developed a close relationship with the Serbs due to their co-management of former United goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. It was during Milinkovic-Savic's time on-loan that Gacinovic began to emerge - and attract enquiries from United's watching representatives.
However, the prospect of an immediate move to Old Trafford was always a non-starter. While there was some concern over Gacinovic's slight frame, after all the UK work permit dramas involving Milinkovic-Savic - and before him Adem Ljajic - United knew this was one for the backburner.
Instead, in stepped Eintracht Frankfurt, cherry picking Gacinovic from Serbia's outstanding U20 World Cup winners in New Zealand. A squad which also included Vanya's kid brother Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Andrija Zivkovic (Benfica) and Nikola Maksimovic (Napoli). All players, Tribalfootball.com has learned, Mourinho has asked good pal Pedja Mijatovic to keep an eye on this season.
By his own admission, brutally so, the move appeared a disaster for Gacinovic in the early months.
"I came in the middle of preseason. The team was in good shape when I got to it. For me it was extremely difficult because the tempo in the Bundesliga is much higher than in the Serbian league. The first three months I did not play any role with (former) coach Armin Veh, I did not play, I was not even in the squad, I understood next to nothing. It was not easy."
Making matters worse, Gacinovic was struck down by glandular fever and those doubts about his physical presence raised by United scouts were not going away. However, despite the language barrier, he did eventually carve out a place for himself as a defensive option in Veh's midfield.
"He was very hard working and very talented," recalled Veh, having left Eintracht last year. "This season, you can now see he's developing well."
"Actually, there was never a problem with Armin Veh," insisted Gacinovic. "Only the language barrier. I did not speak German, he could not speak English very well. We could not talk. But he was always good to me, never treated me badly."
A year on, Gacinovic now speaks fluent German - and thanks to Kovac - is playing in his favoured position.
"In the second half of last season, I had to play as a No6 because many players were missing injured. That's not my favorite role. Now I'm attacking and that's better for me and I think for the team as well. I love this position."
However, in England it's suggested Mourinho has identified Gacinovic as a potential winger signing. Which does hark back to those long-term scouting reports.
"Earlier in Serbia I was left wing, sometimes a right winger, sometimes as a No10," he confirms. "But I never played as a No8 or No6. But now I have more experience."
But what about those physical doubts?
"There is a world of difference between the first year Bundesliga and now. No one pushes me about that easily anymore. I always give 100 percent. Well, if a brute comes in, who also gives 100 percent, I may have a disadvantage in a 50-50. But I'm faster and nimble."
With Mourinho now a fan, Eintracht management, as Hellmann says, know Gacinovic's star is rising. And having arrived for a knockdown €1.2m, they stand to make a huge profit on any future sale.
Proven in the Bundesliga. A regular with Serbia. Those work permit issues are now gone. If Mourinho approves, it won't be red tape stopping this deal.
"I want to stay here," says Gacinovic, "but it's clear that I would like to join a really big club.
"If we, Eintracht, my advisor, my father and I see that the time has come to go to a bigger club, we'll decide that together. But I am very happy here."
