Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has confirmed that the club are "close" to securing the signature of Wout Weghorst.
The Netherlands international travelled to England on Thursday to undergo a medical with the Red Devils, having terminated his loan agreement with Besiktas.
Man United had allegedly been hopeful of securing the loan signing of the Burnley forward in time for Saturday's Premier League clash with Manchester City.
However, Ten Hag, speaking during his pre-match press conference, has said that Weghorst will not feature in the Manchester derby, with the club missing the deadline to register him.
"We are close. He will not be available for tomorrow," said the Dutchman.
As a result, the 30-year-old's debut for the Red Devils could come in next week's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Weghorst has experience of playing in the Premier League, featuring on 20 times for Burnley during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring twice and registering three assists.
Ten Hag has said that his side need to "be brave" against Man City on Saturday and show that they have learned from their 6-3 loss to the Citizens in October.
"We have to prove that tomorrow on the pitch. Last time we didn't do well and we have to do it better. It has been a process in the last months where we have developed," said the Dutchman.
"We have to be brave, have to believe and have to play our game. It was a lesson, we took the lesson and from that point on we have made huge progress.
"I think that game was a setback, it is always about you have to act, to deliver. You have to go through certain steps, you need a clear vision, a clear point where you want to go... a direction. Then it is about development."
Man City will enter the match off the back of a 2-0 loss to Southampton in the EFL Cup, but Ten Hag rejected claims that it was a good time to face the English champions.
"I don't look, and of course we notice, that they had a setback. I have seen the past weeks many games of them. But we have to look at ourselves, we have to play our best game," he added.
"That is what I demand tomorrow from my players. Togetherness with full belief, not naive."
Man United have been victorious in each of their last eight matches in all competitions, including their last four in the Premier League against Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth. body check tags ::
