Ryan Giggs has warned Manchester United that they have ended the transfer window two midfielders short ahead of the club's Premier League opener against Chelsea on Sunday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has overseen the departures of midfielders Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera to Shandong Luneng and Paris Saint-Germain respectively since taking over last December.
United were heavily linked with midfielders such as Bruno Fernandes and Sean Longstaff throughout the transfer window, but no additions were made in that area.
Speaking to ESPN about the club's transfer window, Giggs said: "I think we need a couple more midfielders.
"If Paul Pogba goes we talk about culture change, but obviously you need quality.
"You might not like it but come Sunday if Paul Pogba isn't in that midfield or the week after, and we've got the midfielders that we've got at our club, then we're short. That's the problem."
United also face the daunting prospect of losing Pogba, their star midfielder, next summer after the Frenchman declared that he wanted a "new challenge" in June.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will reportedly restart the club's search for a technical director to oversee departures and arrivals following another frustrating window for United supporters.