As far back as September, not long after the summer window had closed, senior members of Manchester United’s hierarchy were expressing the view that January is a difficult time to complete transfers.



Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, is known to reflect on when Faustino Asprilla joined Newcastle United in February 1996. Even if Kevin Keegan feels Asprilla nearly got his team over the line in that memorable title race with Manchester United, the wider perception is that the Colombian striker upset Newcastle’s chemistry and, privately, Woodward uses it as something of a football fable.



Publicly, Woodward has also expressed reservations about the summer market. In an interview with the United We Stand fanzine, he said: “It’s hard enough to get three players done in a transfer window. To get six or seven done is extremely difficult if you are getting proper talent.”



That may be true, given the complexities of any...