The dramatic drop in Manchester United's pulling power became clear in January when, after weeks of searching for a new striker, Odion Ighalo was the best they could do.
He had scored 40 goals in 100 appearances for Watford, an admirable total, but had then seemingly cast aside his best days when he left English football for the financial rewards on offer in China.
But then, almost out of nowhere, Ighalo was handed a move to Old Trafford in the final days of the January window with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer desperate for attacking cover and a raft of Europe's elite strikers still not convinced about joining his rebuild.