5 jaw-dropping transfers that made it over the line

4. Juan Mata (Chelsea to Manchester United)

Whether United actually needed Mata or not is debatable. Many would argue that the central midfield area needed to be addressed first and foremost. But what’s done is done.

David Moyes did say Mata would be the first of many signings of that quality, but he also said that those signings would only arrive from this summer. So, the 25-year-old stands as United’s only January recruit.

United have lacked penetration in the final third on many occasions this season. The onus has largely been on Wayne Rooney and Adnan Januzaj to provide it, and while they have to an extent, the former has had injury problems, while the latter is still learning his craft.

Mata, who created the joint third-most chances in the league last season (95) and made the most assists (12), is surely capable of providing that creative spark, and he could prove crucial in their push to get into the top four.

United did well to make the most of his dire situation at Chelsea, and they’ve already started to profit from it, as the Spaniard has made an assist in each of his two appearances in a red shirt.

As the 2-1 loss away to Stoke City shows, United have other problems, but at least Mata’s record signing signals the start of Moyes’ mission to deal with them.