It is in keeping with Manchester United's handling of the Mason Greenwood situation that when a statement was released it did not include a decision.
Club sources confirmed more than two weeks ago the information from their six-month investigation into Greenwood had been gathered.
In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, United stated: "The fact-finding phase of our investigation is now complete, and we are in the final stages of making a decision on Mason’s future." A source close to the United hierarchy said other factors had come into play since the original deadline had been set and that consulting United women's players after the World Cup was not the reason for the delay.
Another familiar with the club's inner workings said there have been "internal grumblings" over United's decision. United said in their statement the decision "has not yet been made and is currently the subject of intensive internal deliberation". Also read: United release statement on Mason Greenwood United chief executive Richard Arnold will make the final call on Greenwood's future but the deadline - imposed by numerous high-ranking officials at the club - of before the season started has passed.