Analysing Manchester United’s possible deadline day transfer deals

The summer transfer window closes (or ‘slams shut’, to use the widely applied euphemism) tomorrow night (11pm BST), and there will surely be a raft of deals hurriedly completed right up until the deadline passes.

Last year, Manchester United completed the signing of Anthony Martial on the last day of the transfer window, and two years before that, it was Marouane Fellani who sealed his Old Trafford switch as the clock ticked down.

United have already been busy this summer, with new manager José Mourinho signing Eric Bailly, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba for a total sum of around £140 million.

The departures have been less high profile, with Paddy McNair and Donald Love joining Sunderland, Tyler Blackett signing for Reading, and Will Keane sealing a move to Hull CIty today.

Victor Valdes, Nick Powell and Guillermo Varela have also left the club, while young prospects Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, James Wilson, Andreas Pereira and Adnan Januzaj have all been loaned out to gain experience.

Mourinho has insisted that his business is done for this summer, and he is anticipating a quiet deadline day, but some reports are suggesting that there may yet be a few deals to be done in the final hours of the transfer window.

Incomings

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Fabinho

United have been linked with a possible move to sign Monaco’s 22-year-old Brazilian right-back Fabinho for most of the summer. Antonio Valencia has been impressive on the right side of the Red Devils’ back four so far this season, and last summer’s defensive recruit, Matteo Darmian, appears to be out of favour.

Mourinho stated in his first press conference as United boss that he prefers to have specialists in his squad, as opposed to utility players, but could Valencia -- who is a winger by trade -- have swayed the manager manager with his stellar start to the season? It is also believed that Mourinho has been told he must offload some high-earning squad players before he can make any more purchases, which further complicates any potential deal to bring Fabinho to Old Trafford.

Chances of signing Fabinho: 4/10

José Fonte

Eric Bailly has adapted brilliatly to life in the Premier League since joining United from Villarreal, but Mourinho is thought to desire an experienced central defender to partner the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international, and Southampton captain José Fonte has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for several weeks now.

But the partnership Bailly has formed with Daley Blind has shown great promise, and Chris Smalling has recently retuned to fitness, so the need for defensive reinforcements may not be as urgent as previously thought. And, again, the supposed need to sell before any buying can be done, could prove prohibitive to this one.

Chances of signing Fonte: 3/10

Diego Rolan

Bordeaux’s Uruguayan striker Diego Rolan has emerged as a surprise target for United, with French radio station RMC reporting that the club had scouts present to watch the 23-year-old score the winner against Nantes at the weekend.

Rolan has scored twice from three Ligue 1 appearances so far this season, and has netted a total of 30 goals in 119 games for Bordeaux in his three-and-a-half years at the club.

With Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial all capable of playing the centre-forward role this season, it seems unlikely that Mourinho would be looking to add another striker. It is much more probable that United are keeping tabs on a player of some potential, to guage whether a future move could be worthwhile.

Chances of signing Rolan: 2/10

Outgoings

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Marcos Rojo

Argentinian defender Marcos Rojo is yet to make a Premier League appearance under Mourinho, and the man signed from Sporting Clube de Portugal for £16 million in 2014 is thought to be surplus to requirements.

La Liga side Valencia are weighing up whether to move for Rojo as a potential replacement for the Arsenal-bound Shkodran Mustafi. Rojo’s wages could prove to be a stumbling block, however, and a loan move with United paying a chunk of Rojo’s salary would appear to be the most likely solution.

Chances of Rojo leaving: 6/10

Matteo Darmian

Darmian was signed from Torino for £14 million just over a year ago. After some impressive early performances, the former AC Milan full-back failed to consistently show his best form last season.

Just like Rojo, Darmian has not figured in the Premier League since Mourinho’s arrival and would appear to be a peripheral figure in the first-team squad. A further nail in the coffin of Darmian’s Manchester United future is the fact that Valencia, usually a right-winger, has been Mourinho’s preferred option at right-back so far this season.

Napoli, Internazionale and AC Milan have all been linked with loan moves for Darmian, but time is running out for the 26-year-old to return to Serie A.

Chances of Darmian leaving: 4/10

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Another player signed just last summer, Bastian Schweinsteiger, is the subject of transfer speculation as the window closes.

Mourinho has been clear about how Schweinsteiger does not fit into his plans at Old Trafford, and should seek a move away from the club. Despite the fact that he has been made to train with the under-23 team, the Germany captain has insisted that he has no intention of leaving, and that United will be his last club in Europe.

However, journalist Duncan Castles, who is known to have close contacts within Mourinho’s entourage, has reported for the Daily Record today that Sporting CP are interested in signing the veteran World Cup winner, but, again, the player’s wages could be an issue, and United will likely have to subsidise any potential move.

Chances of Schweinsteiger leaving: 3/10

Phil Jones

England defender Phil Jones joined United from Blackburn as a teenager in 2011, costing £16.5 million. Compared to legendary Busby Babe Duncan Edwards by then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson, everyone at the club had high hopes for Jones.

But five years on, a string of injuries and an inability to hold down a defined position within the team has seen Jones’s development stall.

Stoke City were rumoured to be interested in signing the 24-year-old on a season-long loan, but any such deal seems to have lost steam.

Chances of Jones leaving: 2/10