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SHOPPERS up and down the country are trying to bag themselves a bargain in the January sales.

And football managers are no different.

However, while you might have kept the receipt for that horrible polka dot jumper, you can’t return a footballer who turns out to be a dud.

Signing the right player in the winter window can completely change a team's fortunes in the final months of the campaign.

However, there is always the potential for it to drastically backfire. Check out the good, the bad and the downright ugly of January transfer signings in Scotland below.

THE GOOD

Adam Rooney: From Oldham to Aberdeen - January 23, 2014

Last month, Rooney scored his 50th goal in his 91st game for the Dons.

The Irish striker, who is only the 14th Reds player to reach a half-century of goals in under 100 games, netted 28 times last season – the best return from a Dons player since Duncan Shearer achieved the same total in the 1992-93 campaign.

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Rooney scored the winning penalty in Aberdeen’s shootout win over Inverness in the 2014 League Cup Final - the Dons’ first piece of silverware for 19 years.

Leigh Griffiths - From Wolves to Celtic - January 31, 2014

Griffiths enjoyed previous spells in Scotland with Livingston, Dundee and Hibs, scoring 74 in 160 outings before he signed for Celtic.

(Image: Gary Hutchison/SNS Group)

The Scotland ace, who has hit 51 goals in 82 appearances for the Hoops, has firmly established himself as the Parkhead club’s No.1 striker.

Steven Hammell - From Southend United to Motherwell - January 31, 2008

In 2006, after making over 200 appearances for Motherwell, Hammell joined Southend United.

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The left-back had attracted interest from clubs such as Celtic, Southampton and Derby County during his first spell at Fir Park. However, after spending 18 months at the Shrimpers, Hammell returned to the Steelmen.

The modern-day Well legend was a granted a testimonial match against Everton in 2012.

Steven Davis - From Fulham to Rangers - January 31, 2008

The Northern Ireland midifelder initially joined his boyhood heroes on loan, however, it was made permanent the following summer.

(Image: Rangers FC/Press Association)

Davis won eight trophies during his four-year stay at Ibrox and helped the Light Blues reach the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.

Craig Bellamy - From Newcastle United to Celtic - January 31, 2005

The Welsh striker made quite an impression during his six-month loan deal.

Bellamy bagged seven goals in 12 outings for the Hoops and returned down south with a Scottish Cup winner’s medal despite missing out on the league title.

Barry Ferguson - From Blackburn Rovers to Rangers - January 31, 2005

The midfielder returned to Rangers after 18 months down south.

Ferguson lifted six more trophies during his second spell at Ibrox and captained the Gers during the 2007/08 run to the UEFA Cup Final.

Kenny McLean - From St Mirren to Aberdeen - February 2, 2015

The midfielder was highly sought-after before he made a £300,000 switch to Pittodrie.

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The 23-year-old has been a regular for the Dons in the past 12 months, and is being tipped to be called up to Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad in the near future.

Genero Zeefuik - From FC Groningen to Hearts - January 8, 2015

The big Dutch striker certainly made his presence felt in Scottish football.

(Image: Alan Rennie/SNS Group)

Zeefuik scored one of the quickest hat-tricks in history as Hearts crushed Cowdenbeath 10-0. In his 15 appearances in Scottish football, he bagged 12 goals.

David Weir - From Everton to Rangers - January 16, 2007

In what should have been the twilight of his career, Weir signed an initial six-month deal under Walter Smith.

(Image: Rob Casey)

However, Weir's deal was repeatedly extended and the veteran went on to become one of the most successful captains in the club's history.

Weir won eight pieces of silverware during his five-year spell at Ibrox and helped Rangers reach the 2008 UEFA Cup Final.

Stephen Pearson - From Kerala Blasters to Motherwell - January 19, 2015

(Image: SNS Group/Sammy Turner)

The veteran midfielder returned to Fir Park for a second spell and helped the club preserve their Premiership status.

Robbie Keane – Tottenham to Celtic – February 1, 2010

OK, so wee Keano didn’t sign in January but only a pedant would quibble about that.

He arrived on loan from Spurs before trotting out the well-worn line: "I always wanted to play for Celtic."

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Thing is, it was true. Despite only playing for the Hoops for less than six months he was still made the fans’ player of the season. And no wonder. He netted 12 times in 16 appearances. He didn’t help the club win the league, though.

THE BAD

Gavin Rae - From Dundee to Rangers - January 1, 2004

Injury can strike at any time, so it might be a bit harsh to include Rae in this category.

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The midfielder made his Gers debut against Celtic two days after joining the club, but he lasted just 30 minutes before he was taken off with a hamstring injury. Rae suffered several injury setbacks, which restricted him to just 28 appearances during his three years at Ibrox.

Eric Djemba-Djemba Free agent to St Mirren - January 31, 2014

So good they named him twice? Not quite.

Then-Buddies manager Danny Lennon described former Manchester United midfielder Djemba-Djemba as the Paisley club’s biggest ever signing.

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But after making just three appearances for the Saints, the Cameroonian was released.

Roy Keane – Manchester United to Celtic – January 2006

Big Keano arrived at Parkhead in a blaze of publicity that whipped the fans into a frenzy.

The excitement didn’t last long, though. Keane made his debut at Clyde in an infamous Scottish Cup defeat. And things didn’t get much better.

(Image: PA/Andrew Milligan)

In his autobiography he wrote, “My hip had been causing concern and after my first training session I drove back to my hotel in Edinburgh and lay on the bed.

“And my hip, I’ve never known pain like it. Just from the warm up and the training.

“I lay there thinking ‘I don’t want to go back. But I need to. You should have retired. You should have just packed it in."

THE UGLY

‘The Toon Five’ - From Newcastle United to Rangers - February 2, 2015

Haris Vuckic, Remie Streete, Kevin Mbabu, Shane Ferguson and Gael Bigirimana joined Rangers on controversial loan deals as last year’s January transfer window slammed shut.

Vuckic proved to be a success, scoring nine times for the Light Blues. However, the other four, hardly featured despite Rangers paying part of the quintet’s contracts.

Mirsad Beslija - From Racing Genk to Hearts - January 31 2006

The Bosnian winger moved to Hearts for £850,000 - a record fee paid by the Tynecastle side.

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However, a dispute over wages erupted and after nine appearances and no goals, Beslija left the club.

Seven other players arrived at Tynecastle on the same day as Belisja, with Bruno Aguiar and Jose Goncalves proving to be better signings.