Manchester United scout Ed van Stijn has admitted that the club's latest acquisiton, Alexander Buttner, was only the third or fourth best left-back in the Eredivisie last season.
The 23-year-old signed a five-year deal with the club on Tuesday after a fee was agreed between the Red Devils and Vitesse Arnhem.
However, Van Stijn, who leads the Old Trafford outfit's recruitment in Netherlands, has revealed that Buttner is not the full-back whom he rated most highly.
"Every season [United] ask all European scouts for a list of players," the Dutchman told Algemeen Dagblad.
"They ask you to create a top five of the best players in the league for every position. I had Buttner at number three or four on my list."
As Goal.com exclusively revealed last month, United had targeted Everton full-back Leighton Baines but set a €15 million limit on any move, a condition which has seemingly forced them to pull out of the running.