I guess for the Jan transfer window, RM had to balance long term v short term. Does he sign up a striker/def mid who he doesn't want long term but does provide cover OR does he hold his nerve til the end of the season. It seems like he is taking a longer term view and doesn't want to sign up "stop gaps" permanently. To bridge the gaps, he has tried to go for loans and generally that has worked out. Unfortunately the injury to Lukaku and Traore are badly timed. We'll just have to try to get through this period. Def Mid is a bigger worry in my opinion. If we lose McCarthy or Barry then things could be really tough. RM did try to bring in Rodwell (on loan) but unfortunately that did not work out.
People keep talking about a stop gap signing.
We dont need a stop gap signing, at the end of the season we have 1 Striker on our books, its not like it would be a waste of a Striker.