Man Utd's best and worst January transfers as Bruno Fernandes equals record

Manchester United are already revelling in Bruno Fernandes’ quality following his January move from Sporting Lisbon.

The Portuguese star is one of the rare signings that has hit the ground running in recent years such has been United’s haphazard attitude towards transfers.

Fernandes was named February’s Player of the Month – joining an illustrious group of players who have won the award in their debut month.

January recruitment is a hard act to get right given club’s unwillingness to let players go mid-season, especially if they are fighting for honours themselves.

Old Trafford has had some world class players walk through the door in the New Year, but is has also seen its fair share of flops arrive.

We take a look at the best and worst transfers to be sanctioned at United during the January transfer window.

Bruno Fernandes has hit the ground running in a red shirt
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The Three Best

Nemanja Vidic

The Serbian defender arrived as an unknown quantity in the 2006 window for £7m from Red Star Belgrade.

Not many would’ve expected him to become arguably the best centre-half in the world for a period.

Alongside Rio Ferdinand he formed a stellar partnership but he was undoubtedly the rock that kept things together.

At Old Trafford he still enjoys folk hero status and is among the finest defenders ever to grace the Premier League.

Five league titles, three League Cups and a Champions League in less than a decade underline his quality.

Nemanja Vidic was a rock at the centre of the defence
(Image: Getty Images)

Patrice Evra

The Frenchman arrived in the same window as Vidic, safe to say Sir Alex Ferguson nailed his recruitment that month.

Evra owned the left-back position at United for almost a decade and can certainly be labelled a bargain at £5.5m.

He made almost 400 appearances for the Red Devils before leaving for Juventus but has been very vocal about his fondness for the Red Devils ever since.

Patrice Evra was signed from Monaco
(Image: Daily Mirror)

Bruno Fernandes

The man of the moment.

It is hard to remember a player who has made such a difference to a team so quickly.

United could genuinely make the Champions League purely because of the Portuguese star.

The Old Trafford faithful may soon get a sense of deja vu, if they haven’t already, at seeing United sign a player from Sporting Lisbon who went on to do great things.

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The Three Worst

Alexis Sanchez

Arrived with so much fan fare – and a more than sizeable wage packet.

But the Chilean was perhaps the most disappointing player to arrive in Manchester for some time.

He was a statement signing, stolen from under the noses of their cross city rivals as Jose Mourinho’s side looked to close the gap in the title race.

In the end a goal to equalise in the FA Cup semi-final is about all he contributed.

Five goals in 45 appearances is certainly not what was expected from a player who managed a goal every other game for Arsenal.

Alexis Sanchez failed to impress at Old Trafford
(Image: Getty Images)

Manucho

Who? That’s exactly what we thought.

The striker never scored a goal for the Red Devils after signing for them in the December 2017 after, supposedly, impressing Ferguson.

He might be a legendary figure at Old Trafford but its fair to say he had quite the ‘hit and miss’ record in the transfer window.

Manucho is perhaps more fondly remembered by Hull fans after he scored a last minute winner for the Tigers at Fulham as they targeted top flight survival.