Manchester United are running out of time to rescue their transfer window

When Manchester United agreed a deal with Atalanta to sign Rasmus Hojlund in the final few days of July, their summer looked to be progressing nicely.

Hojlund would become the third first-team-ready addition of the summer and although confirmation of his arrival took longer than expected, Erik ten Hag had a new goalkeeper, midfielder and striker in by August 5. It was a clear improvement on the situation a year ago, when Casemiro signed three games into the season and Antony came on deadline day.

The noise from some inside Old Trafford at that point was that business might be done, but it never felt like a realistic assessment. The priorities might have been done, but there was more to do to strengthen and fine-tune Ten Hag's squad.

United had certainly put themselves in a strong position though. When the deal for Hojlund was agreed on the penultimate day of their US tour, there was more than a month to go of the window.

Varane injury record shows United transfer risk this week

But a proactive July has given way to a frustrating, slow-burn August. There have been no new incomings for a month and Fred is the only other first-team player to have left. It's making for a stressful, pressure-filled final week of the window, which closes on Friday night.

There are still departures that need to be finalised and incomings remain a priority. United probably need three new signings by Friday night to confirm this window as a success.

That number has gone up due to circumstances mostly out of their control. The muscle injury picked up by Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia's ongoing absence means a left-back is needed. Finding the right short-term option is another test of John Murtough's skills as a football director and of United's