Manchester United's Best and Worst January Transfer Window Signings

Manchester United have made relatively little use of the January transfer window since its induction in 2003. 

At time of writing, United have signed just 12 players in the January window. What this means, of course, is that in a list of the five best and five worst midseason signings since '03, all but two have a place on one side or the other. 

Many of the signings listed here as "worst" were actually reasonable punts to take, and only one was an expensive gamble. They simply have not worked out. It is important to stress that being on this list does not make players bad or their signings disastrous.

On the other side of the coin, only two of the "best" signings have been unqualified successes (although there is still time for two of the others to attain that level). 

Missing out on the list are Frederic Veseli—who was signed as very young player on whom little rested—and Anders Lindegaard. It would have seemed harsh to include Lindegaard among the worst and overly generous to include him among the best, given his middling performances over the years. 

Wilfried Zaha did not arrive at United in January, as he was loaned back to Crystal Palace for the rest of the 2012/13 season. That meant that he unfortunately missed playing for Sir Alex Ferguson. 

An alternate history in which Sir Alex remained in charge may have led to a different outcome for Zaha. As it is, his £15,000,000 transfer fee has been made to look like a huge waste of money given how little he has featured for United. 

He is a player who still has plenty of potential and a signing which made a good deal of sense at the time, but fate was not kind to Zaha's United career. For that reason—and for the relatively high fee—he sneaks onto the list of worst signings. 

Ritchie De Laet was signed as a promising 21-year-old, made three starts in two Premier League seasons, one start and two substitute appearances in the League Cup and was loaned to four separate clubs before being sold to Leicester City. 

He was voted the Reserve Team Player of the Year in the 2009/10 season but was unable to make any impact on the first team. He is not higher up on this list because of those good performances for the reserves, but he certainly belongs among the five worst signings.

Zoran Tosic's United career was essentially a total bust. He was sent on loan during his second season and then sold to CSKA Moscow—where, it should be said, he is enjoying a fine career. 

Tosic made two substitute appearances in the league, one in the FA Cup and two in the League Cup. He sits third here because he made no impact during his time at the club.

Manucho's record away from Old Trafford suggests that he is a decent player, but the Angolan was never able to thrive in Manchester. 

With one substitute appearance in the league and two in the League Cup, he was not given much of a chance, and like all the players in the "worst" part of this list, he spent time on loan away from the club. 

Manchester United trivia fans will be interested to learn that Manucho and Danny Welbeck made their league debuts in the same game against Stoke City in 2008. 

Dong Fangzhuo's signing generated a good deal of publicity, given that he was the first Chinese player United had ever bought. Unable to get a work permit, he was sent on loan to Royal Antwerp in Belgium, where he impressed, according to John Duerden of ESPN FC.

However, it all ended in tears when his contract was terminated in 2008. He has never been able to hit anything like his early Belgian form since and has not played for the Chinese national side, either. 

Having spent years waiting for him to become eligible to play for United, the disappointment that followed puts him at the top of this part of the list. 

Fortunately, it is now time to move on to a more cheerful topic, as we take a look at the best signings in the January window.

Victor Valdes sneaks into the "best" section at No. 5, though he hasn't yet played a single senior minute for United. 

He does so because, as previously mentioned, United have made such infrequent use of the January window, but also because his is a signing that strengthens United's squad considerably. 

If David de Gea does not stay at the club, United at least have a replacement with the credentials to step into the role. If he does stay, United have a very high-quality backup. 

It is a win-win situation. 

When Louis Saha was at his best for United, he was electrifying. He formed a spectacular partnership with the young Wayne Rooney and kept Ruud van Nistelrooy out of the side more than once. 

However, he is not higher up this list because of the injuries that blighted his United career. A fantastic player at his best, but all too infrequently.

There is a reasonable argument for flip-flopping Saha and Juan Mata in this list. However, Mata has the potential to contribute to United in the future and the talent to ensure he does. 

He has not had the easiest time since his arrival, playing in a variety of positions and rarely getting the chance to be an orthodox No. 10—his strongest position. 

However, he has scored plenty of goals, provided plenty of assists and generated numerous moments of magic which hint that even better is to come. 

And while this might be a little unfair on Saha, he did not arrive by helicopter, so Mata edges him out there.

There is a significant gap between the top two on this list and third place but only a wafer-thin one between the top two. 

Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra essentially share the top spot here, but since there can only be one winner, Patrice is confined to second place, as he probably had more bad games for United than Vidic did. 

He also had many, many good games and like Vidic was instrumental in United's glorious 2007/08 season. 

Both Vidic and Evra struggled during their first few months at United and thus are fine examples of January signings using the early arrival to bed in ahead of the season to come. 

Evra was dedicated to the club and its fans and always gave the impression that he was proud to play for United. It was a pleasure to watch him, and he deserves his lofty position here.

Few would have predicted during Vidic's difficult first few months that he would go on to form part of an era-defining central-defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand. 

He eventually became United captain, and during his time at the club he helped ensure that plenty of silverware was added to Old Trafford's already packed trophy cabinet. 

One of the finest central defenders to grace the Premier League, Vidic at his imperious best was a joy to watch. Apparently fearless in a challenge and dominant in the air, he also improved throughout his time at the club at reading plays. 

He is United's best January signing and may just be the best January signing there has ever been at any club.