Manchester United expected a fairly quiet January transfer window and that's exactly what they got.
Apart from a few outgoings, mostly on loan, there was not much for United fans to get excited about in the winter window. Only one player came in and that was on a deal that had been already agreed last year, with Amad Diallo arriving from Serie A.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be satisfied with his club's business, however, with United able to trim the size of their previously bloated squad, with Jesse Lingard among those who left on loan — plus a raft of young players.
Here are the full ins and outs from a fairly subdued January 2021...
INS
Amad Diallo from Atalanta (£19million plus add-ons)
Diallo's move to United from Atalanta was a long time coming, after the two clubs agreed a fee on deadline day in the summer window (which stretched into October). But the 18-year-old eventually touched down in Manchester midway through the month, vowing to make quick strides and establish himself at the club as quickly as possible.
He started with United's Under-23 squad, though the exciting right-winger is expected to push into Solskjaer's first-team plans in the coming months, with the club very excited about his potential.
Recalled from loans: Dylan Levitt (from Charlton), Matej Kovar (from Swindon).
OUTS
Timothy Fosu-Mensah to Bayer Leverkusen (£1.5million)
Fosu-Mensah rejected offers of an extended contract at United and opted to seek a new opportunity in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.
The Dutchman was seen as a valuable squad option by Solskjaer, though nothing more, so a £1.5million cut-price move to Leverkusen was signed and sealed midway through the January window. He agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the German side, which runs until the summer of 2024.
Marcos Rojo to Boca Juniors (free transfer, impending)
United agreed to cut short Rojo's contract, which was due to expire in June, allowing him to seal a permanent move back home to Argentina. The official unveiling was delayed until February 2nd (with the window open until February 19th in Argentina) but everything was signed and sealed to make the move happen.
It brings a chaotic and largely disappointing six-and-a-half year spell at United to a close, with Rojo's final United appearance way back in November 2019. He was surplus to requirements since the summer.
Jesse Lingard to West Ham (loan, plus fee)
Lingard had long needed a change of scenery and he duly got it with a loan agreed to West Ham until the end of the season, with United receiving a £1.5million loan fee from David Moyes' side who are also footing the player's wages in full.
It may be that Lingard has played his final game for United, with a permanent sale possible in the summer. His longer-term future will depend on how he fares with the Hammers in the next few months.
James Garner to Nottingham Forest (loan)
Garner had shown some promise on loan at Watford at the start of the season, but his game-time suffered when the Hornets changed their manager. New boss Xisco Munoz repeatedly left the United man on the bench and so it was decided that Garner needed a new club on loan.
The man once dubbed the 'next Michael Carrick' has joined Chris Hughton's Nottingham Forest until the end of the campaign, where he'll hope to re-establish himself as a Championship first-teamer.
Tahith Chong to Club Brugge (loan)
Chong found himself in a similar position to Garner in that he'd struggled for a regular first team spot on loan at Werder Bremen.
Again, United made the decision to find him a new loan club for the remainder of the campaign, with Belgian side Club Brugge — who were interested in Facundo Pellistri — sealing a temporary swoop for Dutch wideman Chong.
Ethan Laird to MK Dons (loan)
The young right-back has endured injury issues at United, but he's highly rated by the youth coaches and now gets a first proper taste of first team football (after two United senior appearances).
He heads to League One side MK Dons on loan until the end of the season.
Facundo Pellistri to Deportivo Alaves (loan)
As mentioned, Brugge were briefly linked with Pellistri, as it became clear United wanted to send the Uruguayan teenager out on loan for him to gain valuable experience.
A move to a Spanish-speaking side was always on the cards and La Liga outfit Alaves proved the ideal match. Pellistri, 18, offered glimpses of his talent for United's Under-23s and now he'll hope to build on that for Alaves.
Teden Mengi to Derby (loan)
There had been Championship interest in Mengi for much of January, though it seemed as though the United Under-23s captain may remain with the club until the summer. That was until Wayne Rooney and Derby came calling late in the window.
United were happy to allow the 18-year-old to head to the Rams, which should provide him with a brilliant opportunity to kickstart his career as a professional. Mengi said himself that Rooney was key to the deal going through and the United legend could well enhance the youngster's development.
Di'Shon Bernard extended his loan at Salford City.
