Manchester United are targeting more signings before the end of the the transfer window, but they are not quite the blockbuster names fans would hope for.
Manager Erik ten Hag has only landed some of his preferred targets this summer after taking over at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag handed full debuts to Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen, while Tyrell Malacia came off the bench in their Premier League opener.
Despite some new faces in the door, it was the same old Manchester United as they lost 2-1 to Brighton at Old Trafford.
Added to that is the issue with Cristiano Ronaldo and his well publicised desire to leave Old Trafford.
He remains, for now, but could still make an exit before the window closes.
Although it is only one game into the new Premier League season, it highlighted the monumental task before Ten Hag.
The Dutch manager’s main target this summer has been Frenkie de Jong, but that has been dragging on for weeks and weeks.
Most read in Football
There could still be plenty of twists and turns before the window slams shut, but it seems unlikely he will be a United player.
It seems the Red Devils are already targeting an alternative in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
The 27-year-old was a hugely rated talent in his younger days before leaving Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer for the Serie A club.
He has not pulled up any trees in Italy and has just one year left on his contract at Juve.
The Red Devils have agreed a deal to sign the midfielder, according to multiple reports.
But Graeme Souness told talkSPORT on Monday that he does not believe he is a better option than their current midfield options.
Another surprising name linked with a move to Old Trafford is former West Ham and Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic.
The 33-year-old is currently at Bologna and the Red Devils have seen a £7.6m bid rejected by the Italian club.
Erik ten Hag, and assistant Steve McClaren, have both worked with Arnautovic before at FC Twente.
The Athletic report that the club see him as a man with the ‘self-belief’ apparently lacking in the United dressing room.
The news a club as big as United were after a player like Arnautovic, who after leaving West Ham in 2019, moved to China, sparked bewilderment from most football fans up and down the country.
Those two players, if signed, are likely to bolster Ten Hag’s squad even if they are not likely to be immediate starters.
But with five substitutes now allowed in the Premier League this season, squad depth is a must and they could play key roles going forward.
Here is how Manchester United could line-up with both Arnautovic and Rabiot.
Eriksen played in the striker role against Brighton, but the team look a whole lot better when he dropped back into the playmaker role.
He would sit alongside Rabiot in the heart of that midfield with Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho in the advanced roles.
If Arnautovic were to play, he would most likely play in the No.9 role in front of Fernandes.
If Ronaldo remains at Old Trafford, which looks increasingly likely, then there is little chance Arnautovic will play ahead of him.
The 37-year-old will want to play as much as possible and in that central striker role.
This is more the team that finished the game against Brighton, with Ronaldo going up top and Eriksen dropping back.
McTominay was his partner in midfield, but after his performance his place in that side is nowhere near assured.
There are plenty of ways Ten Hag can fit the pair into his side, but it may not fill fans with huge amounts of confidence.
talkSPORT BET Offer
Bet £10 Get £10 In Free Bets
18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ on any sport at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get £10 Free Bets on any sports market. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply, see below. BeGambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly