Manchester United are already switching their focus to this summer and could end January without a signing.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been keen to bring in reinforcements this month with Bruno Fernandes a top target.
But United have so far failed to reach an agreement with Sporting Lisbon and the clock is ticking to get the deal over the line before Friday's deadline.
Solskjaer had also made a striker a priority after losing Marcus Rashford for up to three months and was ready to enter the loan market.
But as things stand, no deals are close and he could end the window empty-handed.
An attacking midfielder is now at the top of Solskjaer's wishlist as he looks ahead to the summer.
The Independent reports United's primary targets are James Maddison and Jack Grealish.
Maddison is having another excellent campaign at Leicester and has been a long-term target for United.
But their chances of landing him appear slim with Leicester on course to qualify for the Champions League.
Grealish appears a more feasible target with the Aston Villa skipper likely to seek a move if his boyhood club suffer relegation.
He has committed his future to the club until the end of the campaign as they bid to climb away from trouble.
Grealish is desperate to keep the club in the top-flight after captaining them to promotion last term at Wembley.
But if Villa fail it is almost inevitable the star will go after excelling in the Premier League to spark huge interest.
