What do you give the manager that has everything?
In the case of Sir Alex Ferguson, the answer appears to be Kaka.
The news that Manchester United have reportedly made contact with representatives of the Brazilian play-maker will undoubtedly have sent tremors of concern running through European football most powerful clubs.
Just when Ferguson's side look as though they have sealed a third successive Premier League title after recovering from two-down to blitz Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 last weekend, they bid to strengthen in the most spectacular way.
Kaka is a genuine world star, one a rare breed capable of transforming a mere game into a thing of beauty with one exhilarating run, blistering shot or precise pass.
He may not enjoy the status he once did as the world's outstanding player just a couple of years ago when he inspired AC Milan's Champions League triumph.
Since then United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Leonardo Messi have both emerged as the prime contenders in a two-way scrap to claim the crown as the planet's supreme footballer.
But at 27 the elegant midfielder is hardly a spent force and, arguably, has still to peak.
And the prospect of him joining a stable of Old Trafford attacking talents that already includes Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, and Carlos Tevez is as mouth-watering for the neutral as it is intimidating to prospective opponents.
The reality, however, is that Kaka is unlikely to be joining such a formidable roster if a deal is struck.
Ronaldo's future remains uncertain after a season when his moments of brilliance have provided only occasional respite from what seems like a perpetual sulk.
The Portugese once again declared his commitment to the club and to Ferguson before the Champions League quarter-final with FC Porto - but like those artistic tumbles in the opposition box, his words must be treated with extreme caution.
And after remaining defiant in his support of the player, the manager astonishingly went public recently with his frustrations at the winger's increasingly petulant displays that have reeked of self-interest this season.
The danger appears to be that Ronaldo has bought into his own legend.
And when a players grows too big for his boots, there is only one place to go - Real Madrid, the club that cultivates and tolerates egos in a manner more akin to a Hollywood studio, in stark contrast to Ferguson's well-grounded football factory.
There is every chance that Tevez may follow him, too, although for very different reasons.
Signed on a two-year loan with the option for United to complete a permanent £30m deal, no one could have worked harder to impress on an extended audition than the Argentinian.
Blessed with no little skill, Tevez's biggest his attribute is his heart and never-say-die spirit.
In many ways that makes him an ideal Ferguson player. Yet the manager has made it clear this season he sees the former Corinthians forward as third choice behind Rooney and Berbatov, even though the Bulgarian has failed to impress during a disappointing first season at the club.
And despite playing more games than both his team-mates this season, Tevez has been made painfully aware of his place in the club's pecking order when the big games come around and has finally admitted he has had enough.
Expect Ferguson to launch a charm offensive in a bid to convince the Latin American he should stay, especially now the buy-out price is believed to have been reduced by a third to £20m.
But it may be too little, too late.
And that means that Ferguson's squad - all-conquering for so long this season before their recent dip in form - could require a significant overhaul.
After all, thirty-somethings Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are unlikely to remain such integral components in Ferguson's trophy-winning machine next year.
Modern transfers being what they are, there will inevitably be many more twists and turns Kaka's future becomes any clearer this summer.
And there is definitely a school of thought that the player's advisers, having had their heads turned by the mind-boggling sums offered by Manchester City in January, are doing their best to suggest their client's future is once again up for grabs.
The figures being mentioned are certainly jaw-dropping with United believed to be ready to offer Milan a transfer fee of around £70m for Kaka who would pocket around £35m over the course of a five-year contract.
But even those figures would be dwarfed the amounts Real Madrid would be forced to shell out if they are to finally prize Ronaldo away from United's clutches.
Ferguson's success over the past two decades has been built on many qualities, but one of his greatest attributes is an ability to recognize when changes need to be made.
Already he is believed to have lined up Wigan Athletic's Antonio Valencia as a possible replacement for the right hand berth should Ronaldo leave.
And the presence of Kaka marauding through the middle in support of the main striker would surely compensate for the loss of the Portugese's goal-threat.
Tellingly, Ferguson once named the Brazilian - along with Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini and Messi - as one of his four most admired Champions League opponents.
And as the manager has long since been aware, if you want to beat the best - you have to buy the best.
