If history teaches us anything, it is that things can change very quickly on transfer deadline day.
Although Manchester United, as things stand, are not expected to add to their squad before this evening's 11pm deadline, nothing can be ruled out for certain. The Reds moved swiftly relatively early on in the window to strengthen both their goalkeeping and attacking departments, landing Jack Butland and Wout Weghorst respectively.
Butland joined the Reds on loan for the remainder of the season from Crystal Palace and Weghorst joined the club on loan from Championship table-toppers Burnley, despite, at the time of the Reds registering their interest, being out on loan at Besiktas. As a result of getting those two deals done by the halfway point of the window, United have not been actively pursuing new additions.
READ MORE: United deadline day news LIVE
The club has already switched its focus to the summer window, where they are expected to prioritise the additions of a new right-back, a younger midfielder and a much-needed striker. Adding a striker to their ranks is set to be their leading priority ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
However, although the severity of it is yet to be confirmed by the club, the sight of Christian Eriksen leaving Old Trafford on Saturday evening on crutches, following the conclusion of United's 3-1 FA Cup fourth round win over Reading, has left some supporters concerned that the Reds could be left light on numbers in midfield. Donny van de Beek is out injured for the remainder of the season and Scott McTominay missed the win over Reading due to a minor injury problem.
United are not in a position where they can splash the cash ahead of the 11pm deadline, meaning they would have to box clever to try and source a replacement, should they feel they need one. And although no new additions, at the time of writing, are expected before 11pm, manager Erik ten Hag, speaking ahead of the clash with Reading, confirmed that if an opportunity to add to his squad arose, he would urge the club to "strike".
"I have an idea, yes," said Ten Hag, addressing United's transfer plans for the summer. "But also in the coming days if we had the opportunity I would go for it but that's not also up to me. That's also clear.
"I think this club always has to have the approach that every day you have to get better so if there are opportunities to get better then you have to strike. That’s my approach so I'm looking around, to research.
"But I have an idea with which profiles we could strengthen the squad."
United, who could see a handful of youngsters leave the club before the window slams shut, are still competing in four different competitions this season and continue to navigate their way through a hectic fixture schedule. It means that they, ideally, need as much squad depth as possible.
Ten Hag, such is his level of respect for the cup competitions, has refused to tinker with his starting XIs too much this season, meaning almost every member of his strongest starting line-up is playing every three or four days. He could, however, ring the changes - certainly more than usual - for the second-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, considering they are 3-0 up from the first-leg last week.
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