There's already an old saying that suggests that you can't get any value in the January transfer window: Andy Carroll, Fernando Torres, and Kostas Mitroglou will attest to that fact. But there are also bargains to be had, and with teams looking to meet their end of season targets, money will continue to be spunked on players who would probably cost half as much in the summer.
As ever, the upcoming window will be cast as the biggest ever: Sky Sports will hype up the countdown to ridiculous degrees as nostalgic football fans shout outrage at what the game has become. And every single one of them will tune in to watch Jim White squawk at the camera and pretend he's on the phone to Harry Redknapp at 10.51pm.
So what might the biggest deals of the coming window look like?
19. Lionel Messi
Rating: Barcelona To Chelsea
Mourinho says he couldn't afford the Argentinian wonder, but with Adidas offering to foot half the bill in the summer an eye-watering move might well be closer than anyone could ever think. Should it happen Jim White would presumably explode on the spot.