Manchester United decided against signing a left-back on deadline day after being rebuffed in their attempts to make a temporary addition in that position.
An enquiry for Barcelona's 22-year-old Alejandro Balde was knocked back, with the Catalan giants only willing to discuss a permanent deal, while Manchester City wanted a loan with an obligation to buy for Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Late interest in Ait-Nouri
United had been alerted to the Algeria international's potential availability by his agent a few days earlier and with time running out on deadline day they placed a call to City on Tuesday afternoon to check his situation for what would have been a shock move.
While City wanted a loan that would have come with an obligation to buy, United weren't interested in discussing a permanent deal, which meant the interest went no further.
United checked on a variety of left-backs in the final days of the window, including Ian Maatsen at Aston Villa and Brighton's Ferdi Kadioglu, but were unable to find an option of sufficient quality to strengthen their squad.
Shaw's fitness and squad needs
United went into the transfer window keen to strengthen at left-back, with Luke Shaw starting all 38 Premier League games for the club last season.
With Shaw's fitness record still a concern and the schedule more demanding this season after a return to the Champions League, there was a desire to sign a left-back, especially with Tyrell Malacia leaving at the end of last term.
United explored a deal for Lewis Hall and made the 21-year-old Newcastle man their leading target, but as more and more first-team stars left St James' Park, it became clear a deal wasn't going to happen this summer.
Short-term options ruled out
There was also interest in Myles Lewis-Skelly, but the Hale End academy graduate was reluctant to leave boyhood club Arsenal and has been a regular for Mikel Arteta's side at the start of this season again.
That left United scrabbling around for a short-term solution towards the end of the window, but with Ineos keen to avoid a return to the days of loan deals for players who would struggle to make an impact, they decided against making a move.
Spain Under-19 international Jorge Salinas is a player they looked at during the summer, but he is seen as a prospect for the future and has only started three La Liga games so far, after helping Racing Santander to promotion from the second tier last season.
Salinas had been expected to move to Atletico Madrid on deadline day and he had a €16million release clause. His move to the capital collapsed yesterday but United decided against making a move.
With no temporary option available and those potentially on the market deemed not good enough, United will rely on Shaw this season, with right-backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui capable of operating on the left.
Patrick Dorgu can also play the position, while United decided to keep 19-year-old Harry Amass, despite Championship interest in the academy left-back.
