Joel Pereira leaves Manchester United on loan

As transfer window deadline day drama goes, it was an exceptionally quiet end to the silliest part of the season for Manchester United. There were no flashy mid-season attacking signings (once bitten, twice shy), and no sensible defensive reinforcements either. Even the expected outgoings didn’t live up to the billing, as the only expected senior departure — Marouane Fellaini — is still at the club. But while Fellaini still has a few weeks until the close of the transfer window in China to hammer out the details of his next contract, a few junior Reds had to pack their bags yesterday and prepare to live in various hotel rooms for the next few months.

Promising third-choice goalkeeper Joel Pereira was the most notable loanee, making his second temporary move of the season, this time to Belgian side KV Kortrijk. Yeah, us neither. Pereira was recalled from his first loan stint at Portuguese outfit Vitoria Setubal for some reason, despite making 16 appearances for the club.

U-23 midfielder Callum Whelan is off to spend the rest of the 2018/19 season at Port Vale. Whelan’s U-23 teammate Zak Dearnley will be joining him in League Two on loan as well, but slightly closer to home, with the forward joining Oldham Athletic. The award for strangest loan move goes to Tom Sang, who has joined non-league side AFC Fylde on loan.