diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 6c23f3d684..fcdb9aeb7a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -358,23 +358,14 @@ else()
 endif()
 option(CURL_USE_PKGCONFIG "Enable pkg-config to detect dependencies" ${_curl_use_pkgconfig_default})
 
-# Initialize variables collecting dependency libs, paths, pkg-config names.
+# Initialize variables collecting system and dependency libs.
 set(CURL_NETWORK_AND_TIME_LIBS "")
 set(CURL_LIBS "")
-set(CURL_LIBDIRS "")
-set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE "")
 
 if(ENABLE_ARES)
   set(USE_ARES 1)
   find_package(Cares REQUIRED)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${CARES_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${CARES_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${CARES_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${CARES_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${CARES_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(CARES_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${CARES_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::cares")
 endif()
 
 include(CurlSymbolHiding)
@@ -762,7 +753,7 @@ if(CURL_USE_OPENSSL)
   # Depend on OpenSSL via imported targets. This allows our dependents to
   # get our dependencies transitively.
   list(APPEND CURL_LIBS OpenSSL::SSL OpenSSL::Crypto)
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE "openssl")
+  set_target_properties(OpenSSL::SSL PROPERTIES LIBCURL_PC_MODULES "openssl")
 
   if(CURL_DEFAULT_SSL_BACKEND AND CURL_DEFAULT_SSL_BACKEND STREQUAL "openssl")
     set(_valid_default_ssl_backend TRUE)
@@ -809,14 +800,7 @@ if(CURL_USE_MBEDTLS)
   endif()
   set(_ssl_enabled ON)
   set(USE_MBEDTLS ON)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${MBEDTLS_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${MBEDTLS_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${MBEDTLS_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${MBEDTLS_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${MBEDTLS_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(MBEDTLS_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${MBEDTLS_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::mbedtls" "CURL::mbedcrypto" "CURL::mbedx509")
 
   if(CURL_DEFAULT_SSL_BACKEND AND CURL_DEFAULT_SSL_BACKEND STREQUAL "mbedtls")
     set(_valid_default_ssl_backend TRUE)
@@ -840,14 +824,7 @@ if(CURL_USE_WOLFSSL)
   find_package(WolfSSL REQUIRED)
   set(_ssl_enabled ON)
   set(USE_WOLFSSL ON)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${WOLFSSL_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${WOLFSSL_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${WOLFSSL_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${WOLFSSL_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${WOLFSSL_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(WOLFSSL_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${WOLFSSL_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::wolfssl")
 
   if(CURL_DEFAULT_SSL_BACKEND AND CURL_DEFAULT_SSL_BACKEND STREQUAL "wolfssl")
     set(_valid_default_ssl_backend TRUE)
@@ -899,14 +876,7 @@ if(CURL_USE_RUSTLS)
   find_package(Rustls REQUIRED)
   set(_ssl_enabled ON)
   set(USE_RUSTLS ON)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${RUSTLS_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${RUSTLS_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${RUSTLS_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${RUSTLS_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${RUSTLS_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(RUSTLS_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${RUSTLS_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::rustls")
 
   if(NOT DEFINED HAVE_RUSTLS_SUPPORTED_HPKE)
     if(RUSTLS_VERSION AND RUSTLS_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 0.15)
@@ -951,14 +921,7 @@ set(HAVE_BROTLI OFF)
 curl_dependency_option(CURL_BROTLI Brotli "brotli")
 if(BROTLI_FOUND)
   set(HAVE_BROTLI ON)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${BROTLI_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${BROTLI_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${BROTLI_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${BROTLI_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${BROTLI_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(BROTLI_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${BROTLI_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::brotli")
 endif()
 
 set(HAVE_ZSTD OFF)
@@ -966,14 +929,7 @@ curl_dependency_option(CURL_ZSTD Zstd "zstd")
 if(ZSTD_FOUND)
   if(ZSTD_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 1.0.0)
     set(HAVE_ZSTD ON)
-    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${ZSTD_LIBRARIES})
-    list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${ZSTD_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${ZSTD_PC_REQUIRES})
-    include_directories(SYSTEM ${ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-    link_directories(${ZSTD_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    if(ZSTD_CFLAGS)
-      string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${ZSTD_CFLAGS}")
-    endif()
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::zstd")
   else()
     message(WARNING "zstd v1.0.0 or newer is required, disabling zstd support.")
   endif()
@@ -993,8 +949,7 @@ macro(curl_openssl_check_exists)
     endif()
   endif()
   if(USE_WOLFSSL)
-    list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_INCLUDES "${WOLFSSL_INCLUDE_DIRS}")
-    list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES "${WOLFSSL_LIBRARIES}")
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES "CURL::wolfssl")
     curl_required_libpaths("${WOLFSSL_LIBRARY_DIRS}")
     if(HAVE_LIBZ)
       list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES ZLIB::ZLIB)  # Public wolfSSL headers also require zlib headers
@@ -1097,14 +1052,7 @@ option(USE_NGHTTP2 "Use nghttp2 library" ON)
 if(USE_NGHTTP2)
   find_package(NGHTTP2)
   if(NGHTTP2_FOUND)
-    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${NGHTTP2_LIBRARIES})
-    list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${NGHTTP2_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${NGHTTP2_PC_REQUIRES})
-    include_directories(SYSTEM ${NGHTTP2_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-    link_directories(${NGHTTP2_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    if(NGHTTP2_CFLAGS)
-      string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${NGHTTP2_CFLAGS}")
-    endif()
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::nghttp2")
   else()
     set(USE_NGHTTP2 OFF)
   endif()
@@ -1140,25 +1088,11 @@ if(USE_NGTCP2)
   else()
     message(FATAL_ERROR "ngtcp2 requires a supported TLS-backend")
   endif()
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${NGTCP2_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${NGTCP2_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${NGTCP2_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${NGTCP2_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${NGTCP2_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(NGTCP2_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${NGTCP2_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::ngtcp2")
 
   find_package(NGHTTP3 REQUIRED)
   set(USE_NGHTTP3 ON)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${NGHTTP3_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${NGHTTP3_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${NGHTTP3_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${NGHTTP3_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${NGHTTP3_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(NGHTTP3_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${NGHTTP3_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::nghttp3")
 endif()
 
 option(USE_QUICHE "Use quiche library for HTTP/3 support" OFF)
@@ -1173,18 +1107,10 @@ if(USE_QUICHE)
     message(FATAL_ERROR "quiche requires BoringSSL")
   endif()
   curl_openssl_check_quic()
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${QUICHE_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${QUICHE_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${QUICHE_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${QUICHE_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${QUICHE_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(QUICHE_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${QUICHE_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::quiche")
   if(NOT DEFINED HAVE_QUICHE_CONN_SET_QLOG_FD)
     cmake_push_check_state()
-    list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_INCLUDES "${QUICHE_INCLUDE_DIRS}")
-    list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES "${QUICHE_LIBRARIES}")
+    list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES "CURL::quiche")
     check_symbol_exists("quiche_conn_set_qlog_fd" "quiche.h" HAVE_QUICHE_CONN_SET_QLOG_FD)
     cmake_pop_check_state()
   endif()
@@ -1200,14 +1126,7 @@ if(USE_OPENSSL_QUIC)
 
   find_package(NGHTTP3 REQUIRED)
   set(USE_NGHTTP3 ON)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${NGHTTP3_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${NGHTTP3_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${NGHTTP3_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${NGHTTP3_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${NGHTTP3_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(NGHTTP3_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${NGHTTP3_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::nghttp3")
 endif()
 
 if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_SRP AND (HAVE_GNUTLS_SRP OR HAVE_OPENSSL_SRP))
@@ -1235,21 +1154,15 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_LDAP)
     find_package(LDAP)
     if(LDAP_FOUND)
       set(HAVE_LBER_H 1)
-      set(CURL_LIBS ${LDAP_LIBRARIES} ${CURL_LIBS})
-      list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${LDAP_LIBRARY_DIRS})
+      set(CURL_LIBS "CURL::ldap" ${CURL_LIBS})
       if(LDAP_PC_REQUIRES)
         set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${LDAP_PC_REQUIRES} ${LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE})
       endif()
-      include_directories(SYSTEM ${LDAP_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-      link_directories(${LDAP_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-      if(LDAP_CFLAGS)
-        string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${LDAP_CFLAGS}")
-      endif()
 
       # LDAP feature checks
 
       list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_DEFINITIONS "-DLDAP_DEPRECATED=1")
-      list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES "${LDAP_LIBRARIES}")
+      list(APPEND CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES "CURL::ldap")
       curl_required_libpaths("${LDAP_LIBRARY_DIRS}")
 
       check_function_exists("ldap_url_parse" HAVE_LDAP_URL_PARSE)
@@ -1312,14 +1225,7 @@ set(HAVE_LIBIDN2 OFF)
 if(USE_LIBIDN2 AND NOT USE_APPLE_IDN AND NOT USE_WIN32_IDN)
   find_package(Libidn2)
   if(LIBIDN2_FOUND)
-    set(CURL_LIBS ${LIBIDN2_LIBRARIES} ${CURL_LIBS})
-    list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${LIBIDN2_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${LIBIDN2_PC_REQUIRES} ${LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE})
-    include_directories(SYSTEM ${LIBIDN2_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-    link_directories(${LIBIDN2_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    if(LIBIDN2_CFLAGS)
-      string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${LIBIDN2_CFLAGS}")
-    endif()
+    set(CURL_LIBS "CURL::libidn2" ${CURL_LIBS})
     set(HAVE_IDN2_H 1)
     set(HAVE_LIBIDN2 1)
   endif()
@@ -1332,14 +1238,7 @@ set(USE_LIBPSL OFF)
 
 if(CURL_USE_LIBPSL)
   find_package(Libpsl REQUIRED)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${LIBPSL_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${LIBPSL_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${LIBPSL_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${LIBPSL_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${LIBPSL_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(LIBPSL_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${LIBPSL_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::libpsl")
   set(USE_LIBPSL ON)
 endif()
 
@@ -1351,14 +1250,7 @@ set(USE_LIBSSH2 OFF)
 if(CURL_USE_LIBSSH2)
   find_package(Libssh2)
   if(LIBSSH2_FOUND)
-    set(CURL_LIBS ${LIBSSH2_LIBRARIES} ${CURL_LIBS})  # keep it before TLS-crypto, compression
-    list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${LIBSSH2_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${LIBSSH2_PC_REQUIRES} ${LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE})
-    include_directories(SYSTEM ${LIBSSH2_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-    link_directories(${LIBSSH2_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    if(LIBSSH2_CFLAGS)
-      string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${LIBSSH2_CFLAGS}")
-    endif()
+    set(CURL_LIBS "CURL::libssh2" ${CURL_LIBS})  # keep it before TLS-crypto, compression
     set(USE_LIBSSH2 ON)
   endif()
 endif()
@@ -1368,14 +1260,7 @@ option(CURL_USE_LIBSSH "Use libssh" OFF)
 mark_as_advanced(CURL_USE_LIBSSH)
 if(NOT USE_LIBSSH2 AND CURL_USE_LIBSSH)
   find_package(Libssh REQUIRED)
-  set(CURL_LIBS ${LIBSSH_LIBRARIES} ${CURL_LIBS})  # keep it before TLS-crypto, compression
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${LIBSSH_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  set(LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${LIBSSH_PC_REQUIRES} ${LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${LIBSSH_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${LIBSSH_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(LIBSSH_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${LIBSSH_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  set(CURL_LIBS "CURL::libssh" ${CURL_LIBS})  # keep it before TLS-crypto, compression
   set(USE_LIBSSH ON)
 endif()
 
@@ -1383,14 +1268,7 @@ option(CURL_USE_GSASL "Use libgsasl" OFF)
 mark_as_advanced(CURL_USE_GSASL)
 if(CURL_USE_GSASL)
   find_package(Libgsasl REQUIRED)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${LIBGSASL_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${LIBGSASL_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${LIBGSASL_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${LIBGSASL_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${LIBGSASL_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(LIBGSASL_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${LIBGSASL_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::libgsasl")
   set(USE_GSASL ON)
 endif()
 
@@ -1402,14 +1280,7 @@ if(CURL_USE_GSSAPI)
 
   set(HAVE_GSSAPI ${GSS_FOUND})
   if(GSS_FOUND)
-    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${GSS_LIBRARIES})
-    list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${GSS_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${GSS_PC_REQUIRES})
-    include_directories(SYSTEM ${GSS_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-    link_directories(${GSS_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-    if(GSS_CFLAGS)
-      string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${GSS_CFLAGS}")
-    endif()
+    list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::gss")
 
     if(GSS_FLAVOUR STREQUAL "GNU")
       set(HAVE_GSSGNU 1)
@@ -1443,14 +1314,7 @@ if(CURL_USE_LIBUV)
     message(FATAL_ERROR "Using libuv without debug support enabled is useless")
   endif()
   find_package(Libuv REQUIRED)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${LIBUV_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${LIBUV_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${LIBUV_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${LIBUV_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${LIBUV_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(LIBUV_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${LIBUV_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::libuv")
   set(USE_LIBUV ON)
   set(HAVE_UV_H ON)
 endif()
@@ -1458,14 +1322,7 @@ endif()
 option(USE_LIBRTMP "Enable librtmp from rtmpdump" OFF)
 if(USE_LIBRTMP)
   find_package(Librtmp REQUIRED)
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS ${LIBRTMP_LIBRARIES})
-  list(APPEND CURL_LIBDIRS ${LIBRTMP_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  list(APPEND LIBCURL_PC_REQUIRES_PRIVATE ${LIBRTMP_PC_REQUIRES})
-  include_directories(SYSTEM ${LIBRTMP_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-  link_directories(${LIBRTMP_LIBRARY_DIRS})
-  if(LIBRTMP_CFLAGS)
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_C_FLAGS " ${LIBRTMP_CFLAGS}")
-  endif()
+  list(APPEND CURL_LIBS "CURL::librtmp")
 endif()
 
 option(ENABLE_UNIX_SOCKETS "Enable Unix domain sockets support" ON)
@@ -2028,8 +1885,6 @@ endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(scripts)  # for shell completions
 
-list(REMOVE_DUPLICATES CURL_LIBDIRS)
-
 add_subdirectory(lib)
 
 if(BUILD_CURL_EXE)
@@ -2296,6 +2151,8 @@ if(NOT CURL_DISABLE_INSTALL)
     endif()
   endforeach()
 
+  list(REMOVE_DUPLICATES _ldflags)
+
   set(_implicit_libs "")
   if(NOT MINGW AND NOT UNIX)
     set(_implicit_libs "${CMAKE_C_IMPLICIT_LINK_LIBRARIES}")