Senne Lammens did not feature in the Royal Antwerp squad for their 2-1 win against KV Mechelen in the Belgian Pro League on Sunday afternoon. However, while it was the clearest indicator yet that the 23-year-old goalkeeper was on his way to Manchester United, he would have been involved if he had his own way.
The Red Devils are locked in advanced talks with Antwerp after reaching an agreement on personal terms with Lammens earlier this month. According to Fabrizio Romano, the two clubs are close to settling on a transfer fee after Antwerp's initial £17million valuation rose to £22m.
It is common for players to be absent from their current team if they are on the brink of sealing a move away, due to factors like a broken-down relationship and the risk of an injury.
And that is the reason for Lammens' exclusion from Antwerp's comeback victory this weekend, which lifted them above Mechelen into fifth.
The Daily Mail report that Antwerp need the money from the Belgium Under-23 international's sale and, therefore, did not want to jeopardise it by risking an injury.
However, it's claimed that they went against Lammens' wishes by doing so. He was ready to feature for the club one last time before completing his Old Trafford switch.
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Lammens will likely seal the move before United's third Premier League game of the season against Burnley on Saturday.
Whether he will immediately enter Ruben Amorim's team remains to be seen amid his current goalkeeper dilemma.
Altay Bayindir appears to have leapfrogged Andre Onana as Amorim's current first-choice stopper at the start of the season.
The Turk started the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford on the opening weekend - and was partly at fault for the visitors' winning goal by failing to command his six-yard box from a corner.
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Onana had only taken part in three training sessions before that clash, though, so his exclusion from the squad was understandable.
The Cameroonian travelled to Fulham with the United squad for Sunday's meeting and arrived at Craven Cottage.
However, Bayindir was once again selected among Amorim's starters, leaving Onana's role in his plans increasingly uncertain.
Another high-profile blunder in west London would only intensify the calls for Lammens' arrival, which now appears imminent.