(AFP Photo)
London: With less than 24 hours until the transfer window slams shut, Manchester United once again find themselves playing the unwanted role of the panicked Christmas shopper who realises he's left it too late to buy the presents he wanted.
Despite splashing out £150 million ($230 million) on new signings during his first season in charge and then spending nearly £80 million on Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Matteo Darmian in recent months, United manager Louis van Gaal is still unhappy with the make-up of his squad.
Frustrated at missing out on several of his top targets, the Dutchman has been left with an unbalanced group heavy on midfielders, but short on quality support for star striker Wayne Rooney, lacking a world-class central defender and missing a top goalkeeper to replace Real Madrid-bound David de Gea.
United's design flaws, which threaten to leave van Gaal's side lagging behind Premier League pace-setters Manchester City, were on full display in their 2-1 defeat at Swansea on Sunday.
And that has thrown the spotlight on United's slap-dash approach to their recruitment.