Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says he would be open to discussing potential signings during the January transfer window, while Gareth Bale is set for his first game in two months in Tuesday's Copa del Rey round-of-32 clash at home to third-tier Fuenlabrada.
The depth of Madrid's squad has been an issue since the summer departures of James Rodriguez, Alvaro Morata and Pepe -- with even Cristiano Ronaldo suggesting that youngsters brought in to replace them were not quite ready to step up yet.
With last year's La Liga and Champions League winners side having stumbled through the autumn months in both competitions, speculation in Marca has suggested a "change of plans" and that the club are now keen to strengthen with Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi mentioned as the type of player they could target.
Asked at a news conference if he could share any definite plans for January, the Madrid coach said "anything could happen" while acknowledging that others at the club did most of the transfer work.
"I am just saying it could happen," Zidane said. "I am very happy with my squad, I don't want it to change, I don't want anyone to leave.
"But in football anything can happen. There are other people [at the club] apart from me when it comes to deciding things, and we can talk.
"When the market opens we will talk, but maybe nothing changes. For sure nobody is going to leave. We know we are able to sign in January, that is all."
Bale has not played since late September due to the latest of a long series of muscle problems and was not risked in Saturday's 3-2 La Liga win at home to Malaga after having returned to training with the squad late last week.
Zidane said he could not say how many minutes Bale was likely to get on Tuesday, but did add he was looking forward to seeing him play alongside Ronlado and Karim Benzema in a competitive game for the first time since last April.
"Gareth will be with us tomorrow, we will see how long he plays for," he said. "But he will play. I want to see Bale doing well, he just needs to play now.
"The rhythm of the game will mark the path. We can play in many ways, but I would like to see Bale, Cristiano and Benzema, the three together sometimes. It is a long time since we had that, and I'd like it."
Mateo Kovacic and Keylor Navas also return from injuries and could start on Tuesday with Madrid 2-0 up from last month's first leg at Fuenlabrada.
Meanwhile, Castilla players Alvaro Tejero, Manu Hernando, Luis Miguel Quezada, Oscar Rodriguez and Jaime Seoane have been training with the seniors since Sunday in preparation for the game.
"They are excited, motivated," Zidane said about a chance for the youngsters to make their Bernabeu debuts. "We know this is a special stadium for players who are going to play. They should be excited about it."
Centre-back Jesus Vallejo is suspended following his red card in the first leg, while winger Lucas Vazquez misses out with a knock picked up against Malaga on the weekend, and club captain Sergio Ramos and attacker Marco Asensio remain sidelined through injury.
Zidane was asked for his view on VAR technology after Lionel Messi was denied a goal in Barcelona's 1-1 La Liga draw at Valencia on Sunday.
"It is planned no?" he responded. "Spanish football will decide, but we all know that technology changes and this system can improve football."