Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has two favoured options to fill the vacant No7 shirt at Old Trafford.
The market shut without Mourinho's desired fourth signing being made.
The Manchester Evening News says Mourinho will have the season to weigh up whether to focus his attentions on Gareth Bale or Antoine Griezmann.
Attempts were made to sign both ahead of his second season in charge at Old Trafford - but United were ultimately forced to wait.
Atletico Madrid's transfer ban ended any hope of landing Griezmann during this window, despite the Frenchman being identified as Mourinho's priority target for months.
Bale, meanwhile, has offered little encouragement to United, with the Welshman determined to fight for his future at Real Madrid.
And the Spanish giants' failure to land Kylian Mbappe meant there was no need to find a buyer for the 28-year-old this summer.
Source: tribalfootball.com