In Alex Ferguson's 1996-97 diary, A Will to Win, despairs the transfer 'marketplace created by agents' and lets 'fly at the tabloid newspaper which had us supposedly signing yet more players'.

You suspect Ferguson retained editorial control over the season review video, which listed 43 names in the 'Trafford trivia' section. The rundown was somewhat prescient; the names Henning Berg, Jaap Stam and Erik Nevland appeared.

In the sanitised era of the Glazer family's ownership, Ferguson goaded the press they 'don't get any tidbits out of Manchester United any more'. His diary is laden with them; discussions with the agents of Ronaldo, Marcel Desailly and Gabriel Batistuta and detailed scouting trips to scrutinise Roberto Rios and Miroslav Djukic in the flesh. It is bookended by frank frustration at missing out on Alan Shearer and Miguel Nadal, and then Markus Babbel and Brian Laudrup.

Ferguson's legacy continues in the United communications department, who keep count of how many players the club are rumoured to be in for, be it seriously or spuriously. Faces must have dropped upon hearing United were bracketed with another Portuguese midfielder called Fernandes this week.

"Jesus Christ, how do you lot come up with this stuff?" Ferguson gasped after reading United were pondering a £10million move for Darren Bent in 2006. "It's Korky the Cat, Dennis the Menace stuff. Do you read Lord Snooty? Which comic is it you guys work for these days?"

United have been publishing their own comic strip in recent years with tales of 'urgent transfer business', an easyJet flight to Barcelona and the manager being defied by 'bean-counters'. There is the recurring plot where they are led down the garden path, featuring a rogues gallery of Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Ramos, Neymar and Antoine Griezmann.

Some of it has been genuinely comical. Ed Woodward excitedly told Jose Mourinho the weekend before the 2018 deadline he was scheduled to meet Diego Godin's sister. Mourinho, sceptical, had his own contacts at Atletico Madrid through his agent Jorge Mendes and soon discovered there would be 'no chance' of signing Godin. United still pointlessly triggered the release clause.

That was the summer Woodward and the United AD (after dominance) came full circle. It was so uncannily similar to the supermarket sweep dash in 2013 that the manager did not see out the season and it set United back three years, minimum.

Miguel Angel Nadal appeared in the United 96/97 season review, but not the United defence

Sources have uttered unflattering remarks about Woodward's inactivity that summer: 'Took the p---.' 'F---- deals up.' S--- himself.' Woodward has taken a back seat and now has 'nothing' to do with recruitment, United sources have told the MEN.

Woodward went on the offensive - and the record - in the autumn, to reassure supporters United had resolved their recruitment issues and everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet. United are clearer in their communication to agencies and relevant intermediaries. 'United' and 'striker' were side by side on January spreadsheets months ago.

United sources concede Anthony Martial's eight-week absence this season, which coincided with six goals in eight games, 'hurt' them. That convinced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the recruitment department to prioritise a striker. Erling Haaland was earmarked amid intense competition and his €20million release clause. United took umbrage at the terms proposed by Mino Raiola. Raiola took umbrage that United took umbrage. He said, she said.

Whether United proceed with a move for their second-choice option remains to be seen. The recruitment department, led by technical chief scout Mick Court, whittle down long lists to two players since Solskjaer refuses to settle for a third-choice option. Managers do not hit the motorways to scour for signings any more but Ferguson only turned to Eric Cantona after moves for Alan Shearer and David Hirst came to nought.

Three strikers were considered in the summer. Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic priced themselves out and Moussa Dembele of Lyon is said to have been the third.

The relentless efforts to link Mandzukic with United beyond the summer window were tedious though humorous. High-level United sources stressed in early October they were 'not running around desperate for a 43-year-old'. Some outlets still ran Mandzukic myths. Mandzukic, 33, moved to the opulence of Qatar last week.

If United move for their Haaland alternative, they are unlikely to be in the mould of a Henrik Larsson or Paolo di Canio. Larsson, 35 at the time of his loan to United in 2007, had an overrated impact and United reaped the benefits of his three-month loan after he had left. Wayne Rooney was far more clinical in the run-in.

The United magazine had a splash of Di Canio wielding red flares prepared for their March 2002 edition. Only Dwight Yorke refused to budge, despite Ferguson's efforts to literally push him into the Middlesbrough dressing room before the FA Cup fourth round tie.

Shearer's move to Newcastle dominated post-Euro 96 headlines
Shearer's move to Newcastle dominated post-Euro 96 headlines

United have concluded 23 is the ideal age to sign a player and January has been described as 'fool's gold' by the club's deal-makers. They still operate by the simple motto that if the right player is available, then buy them. United sources have also stressed there is a 'high possibility' they will go without signing anyone this month.

There is an acceptance United are 'thin' in midfield, an area further depleted by the loss of Scott McTominay through a knee injury. That has almost certainly extended Nemanja Matic's shelf life by another six months. 'Bodies' was unflatteringly used to describe the department by Old Trafford sources. Matic is a body.

"I'm always an optimist," Solskjaer said. "I'm a striker by nature and I've always been an optimist. I'm optimistic we can keep players fit and if the right ones become available we do have the resources and I do have the backing from the board.

"But it's also about getting the right ones. It has to be. There's no point suddenly bringing someone else in now for the sake of three or four months if that can disrupt any good feeling or chemistry in the group, because the chemistry in the group is really good.

"It has to be the right type and it has to be a good investment for the long-term as well."

United's transfer totaliser for players they have been linked with this season now stands at 72. Haaland is unlikely to have his own segment on the season review DVD like Shearer did and United managers past and present turned to rookie goalscorers amid such disappointment.

Solskjaer had Greenwood and Ferguson had Solskjaer.