Erik ten Hag has admitted he could be powerless to stop Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United before Thursday's transfer deadline, but is hopeful the forward will remain at the club.
Ronaldo has found himself benched in successive Premier League games by Ten Hag and at the end of the 1-0 win at Southampton on Saturday the 37-year-old made an effort to go over and applaud the travelling fans, something he hasn't always done after away games.
The forward has made his intention to leave the club this summer clear and with the transfer window closing on Thursday he could have played his final game for United.
READ MORE: Ten Hag gives verdict on Casemiro's debut
His absence from the starting XI for two wins this week, despite Anthony Martial not starting either, suggests Ronaldo isn't in Ten Hag's best side at the moment, which could encourage the Portugal international to push for a move this week.
There hasn't been a queue of suitors in the Champions League trying to sign him, but that could change this week and Ten Hag has admitted he could go.
Asked if this could have been Ronaldo's final game, Ten Hag said: "We plan with him. So we want him to stay. So that is what we want."
Ronaldo has a year remaining on his contract, so United could force him to stay, but when asked if it was up to him, he said: "I hope so."
The Dutchman also suggested United didn't need to sign another striker before the end of the window, despite the uncertainty over Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford's struggles in that role against Southampton.
"I think he [Rashford] was quite effective, especially the first 15 mins after half-time. He understood he has to be a target at times," said Ten Hag.
"He was the one who creates the situations. He was involved in the situations after half time and he played an important role in our attacks in the first 15 mins after half-time.
"That is what I expected when there is a lot of pressure on the ball that there is a striker that we can play over and he did really well.
"We have Cristiano, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford so we are okay [for strikers]."
READ NEXT:
