The Glazers should give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer every penny he wants after proving he is the man to lead Manchester United forward.
He’s also shown he’s patently better with money than anyone else at Old Trafford over the past seven years.
A 2-0 win at Leicester secured third place in the Premier League and, with it, a return to Champions League football.
And if they are to rub shoulders with Europe’s elite once more, it is because of the inspired January signing of Bruno Fernandes.
The Portugal international has been the most transformative of signings.
He walked into a team devoid of confidence and form – and 14 points adrift of third-placed Leicester. On Sunday, his penalty, set Solskjaer’s on course for a crucial win at the King Power Stadium that moved United four points clear of Brendan Rodgers’ side and back to the Champions League promised land.
In 20 games in all competitions Fernandes has scored 10 and provided eight assists to turn their campaign on its head.
Against Leicester he looked tired. His was passing was wayward and he cut an increasingly irritable figure with each heavy challenge administered by a blue shirt.
Yet it was his pass to Anthony Martial midway through the second half that led to Jonny Evans and Wes Morgan sending the United forward tumbling in the box.
Fernandes, showing no signs of nerves, immediately picked the ball up and coolly rolled it past Kasper Schmeichel.
Football can be a simple game: recruit well; sign top quality players and the results should follow.
United went from a team that had lost to West Ham, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Watford and Burnley, to one that could string together 19 games without defeat.
In Fernandes, they signed a player who was better than any other in the Premier League since his arrival.
He was added to two other pieces of astute business – Harry Maguire, who played all 38 league games in his debut season, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has established himself as arguably the best defensive full back in the country.
So if Solskjaer asks Ed Woodward and the Glazers to break the bank to sign Jadon Sancho this summer – he’s got every right to expect them to deliver.
The Borussia Dortmund winger is his primary target – and even if takes close to £100million, United’s hierarchy must invest in their manager’s vision after answering every question asked of him.
No-one at Old Trafford had any right to expect more than a top three finish from the squad Solskjaer inherited.
He may yet add silverware to that feat after already securing semi final places in the two domestic cups.
He has provided short-term gain as part of a long-term plan.
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He risked his very position by putting his faith in youth and boldly pressing ahead with a project that was always going to require patience.
He’s ended becoming the first United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired to deliver top three in his first full season – with the club’s second highest finish in that period.
Now he needs the support from above to finish the job.
Pep Guardiola was given unprecedented funds after his first year in English football, which proved the foundation of back-to-back titles for Manchester City.
Liverpool had the faith in Jurgen Klopp to let him smash records for a centre-back and goalkeeper to secure their first title in 30 years.
Now United need to do the same after Solskjaer proved without doubt that he deserves the chance to go head-to-head with Klopp and Guardiola.
That means Sancho.
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It means more cover in midfield in the form of Jack Grealish or the like, regardless of Paul Pogba’s future.
It means a top-class centre-back to support Harry Maguire – even after Victor Lindelof’s outstanding performance against Leicester.
And it might mean Solskjaer taking a difficult decision over David de Gea.
The cavernous gap to the top two is already too big. If United stand still, they will go backwards rapidly.
Now they have a platform from which to build and it is an opportunity that cannot be wasted.
Solskjaer travelled to Leicester knowing success or failure this season came down to one game.
It wasn’t that his job was on the line – but missing out on the Champions League would have left question marks hanging over him.
The big question mark over his team on this final day was whether they could see a job out, get over the line. Close the deal.
They’d already blown two semi finals – and this was a final far more important than either the Carabao or FA Cup.
It was far from smooth.
A team needs learn how to win – but in Fernandes they have player who stamps his authority on any occasion, no matter what the size.
United never looked back after his goal – and Jesse Lingard’s second in stoppage time crowned the win.
Solskjaer described his reign as a journey leading up to this date with destiny.
It has only just begun.
