The days when Manchester United looked upon the winter transfer window so dismissively it was an afterthought are more distant than their last title.
Three of the most consequential United transfers in the past decade - Juan Mata, Alexis Sanchez and Bruno Fernandes - were all executed in January.
Ed Woodward once described the mid-season window as driven by the desperation of the seller, rather than the buyer. Woodward also dubbed the January market "fool's gold".
The Sanchez deal was certainly foolish but Fernandes has been United's finest signing since Robin van Persie in 2012. READ MORE: United need a winger like Antonio Valencia and there is an obvious target READ MORE: United eyeing another squad clearout to break double figures That the best and worst United signings of the post-Ferguson era have come in January typifies the club's slapdash strategy.