Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal refused to confirm his interest in Real Madrid's Angel di Maria as speculation mounted that he is on his way to Old Trafford.
Speaking after seeing his side only manage to claim a point from a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Sunday afternoon, the Dutchman remained tight-lipped.
Van Gaal said: "I cannot say anything about transfers, you have to understand that. When a transfer has been finished, then we can say something. But now you have to wait and see.
"When the moment is there, Manchester United shall announce it."
He added with a smile: "It is not only Di Maria - maybe Vidal or Messi! We are a big club."
"When a transfer has been finished, then we can say something. But now you have to wait and see" - Louis van Gaal
What is in little doubt is that United need reinforcements and quickly if they are to belatedly launch their season.
A point was the most they deserved to take out of their trip to Wearside as they laboured despite taking an early lead against the run of play.
Van Gaal said: "We lost a lot of balls in situations I don't expect it. When you do that, you have to run after the ball to win it back and then you are not in the match. That was the first-half problem, I think.
"In the second half, we were dominating. But you need creative passing in the last third and that was also not so good. We were dominating without creating any chances.
"That is the purpose of the game, to create chances and make goals. But we didn't create so many. That is disappointing."
Juan Mata's 17th-minute strike gave United the lead, but Jack Rodwell levelled on the half-hour with his first Sunderland goal, after being allowed to meet a Sebastian Larsson corner unopposed.
But if Van Gaal knows he has work to do, opposite number Gus Poyet is convinced he will get it right.
Poyet said: "I know Van Gaal very well and if you give him time, he is going to achieve what he has promised, I have got no doubt.
"It's a different Manchester United, without any doubt. It was strange to see them playing with three at the back after watching Manchester United for 20 years with a different system.
"The good thing for me and the strong thing for me is he is going to buy players to play in that system, and that's a great advantage.
"When you have that opportunity, it gives you the chance to then not have any excuses, and I am sure that Louis van Gaal is looking for that - 'Give me the players to play this system and then it's up to me', which is great."
