Only one new player, Anders Lindegaard, whose signing from Aalesund was long ago wrapped up, has been brought in by the wily boss this winter.
Some might say that at the top of the table, Manchester United don't need to add new faces to a side that is presently unbeaten in the Premier League and looking formidable with a streak of meaty comebacks.
Others would argue that these comebacks have been necessary due to inherent weaknesses in the squad, and with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar all edging closer to retirement it would be better to bring players in pronto and blood them as replacements, giving the side an edge on their rivals in the title race with a glut of hungry players itching to prove they've got what it takes.
United have had mixed fortunes in past transfer windows, with Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra proving to be excellent signings in January 2006, but have also spent big on flops like Zoran Tosic and Manucho.
So has Ferguson done the right thing this January?
With Edwin van der Sar announcing his retirement at the end of the season, Ferguson will surely be looking to bring in a replacement for the Dutchman. In Lindegaard and Tomas Kuszczak he has an unknown quantity and a player not good enough to take on the No.1 jersey come the summer.
Maarten Stekelenburg, David De Gea and Manuel Neuer appear to be the leading candidates for the job, with goalkeeping coach Rene Meulensteen revealing that the Dutchman is the top man.
Ferguson can be forgiven for not buying in winter given the extraordinary difficulties of bringing in a goalkeeper during such a short amount of time – few clubs are willing to let go of their most irreplaceable players in January, and there are arguably no more difficult spots to fill than that of a goalkeeper.
And, of course, Ferguson may have been waiting on Van der Sar to make a decision about his future before deciding on whether or not to bring in a goalkeeper.
Having only just found out last week, it's understandable that he is prepared to wait until the summer to see what to do – be that to entrust Lindegaard or spend on a replacement. One thing Ferguson can ill afford is to wait nigh-on 10 years to find a new goalkeeper, as happened when Peter Schmeichel left the club.
Possible targets: Stekelenburg (£8 million), De Gea (£20m), Neuer (£20m), Pepe Reina (£30m)
The case for the defence
While Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are undoubtedly among the best in the business in their respective positions, beyond that there is some cause for concern. The FA Cup tie with Southampton showed just how fragile United's backline is without its first choice starters.
Yet in Chris Smalling and Rafael, United have two of the most promising defensive youngsters in the league. The latter earned a call-up to the Brazil squad – no mean feat with Maicon and Dani Alves to compete with at right-back – after earning praise before being knocked out at Blackpool, while the former has the makings of a steady centre-back.
Evans could yet make it as a first team regular if he learns from his peers, but Fabio has yet to show that he will make as much of an impact as his twin brother has done.
The defence could certainly have done with an extra body for security, especially if Evra or Rafael pick up an injury in the tail end of the season as their runs down the left carry a tremendous threat, with John O'Shea unable to provide such an outlet when he deputises out wide.
Possible targets: Paulo Ferreira (£2m), Jose Bosingwa (£5m)
Stuck in the middle?
The hub of it all for United, but this season, perhaps more than in recent ones, it's been the brilliance of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes that have kept the league leaders ticking – indeed, the turnaround at Bloomfield Road last week was largely a result of the Welshman's introduction.
Darren Fletcher remains the club's only other steady centre-midfielder besides Scholes, with Michael Carrick too often going missing on the pitch and Owen Hargreaves sadly anonymous with a series of injuries.
Darron Gibson is a very poor man's excuse for a midfielder in a title-chasing side, with a tendency to blast wildly from distance rather than retain the ball.
On the flanks it's a slightly different story as Nani has been a sensation this season and the return of Antonio Valencia will provide an extra string to the bow of United's attack. The Ecuadorian winger delivers a consistently excellent cross and can stretch the play with his pace, giving the side balance and an additional threat. Park Ji-Sung may be a brilliant runner, but he lacks the finesse to be a source of danger.
A centre-midfielder and/or a winger would have done United's chances no harm.
Possible targets: Charlie Adam (£10m), Ashley Young (£18m)
Leading from the front
It's just as well that Dimitar Berbatov has been banging them in this season as the form of Wayne Rooney has been utterly dreadful. Only in recent weeks has the England man got anywhere near his best and an abject display at Blackpool served as a reminder that the 25-year-old still hasn't got his head together.
While he retains that killer instinct, he is a pale shadow of his former self and with Bebe yet to learn how to walk in the first team, any serious injuries to one or more of the starting three strikers could thrust the ageing and increasingly witless Owen into the fold.
Possible targets: Amauri (loan), Danny Welbeck (loan recall)
Right or wrong?
Ferguson may live to regret not bringing in an extra midfielder, but his logic in not spending big on a new goalkeeper, who would have to squeeze out the perfectly fine Edwin van der Sar for the remainder of the season, is sane.
He may well be taking a risk on not bringing in a versatile defender, but if Evra and Rafael remain fit for the rest of the season then United should be fine.
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