From the outset of the window, Regis le Bris has made it clear Sunderland may not be doing much business this month.
Two or three maximum incoming and perhaps a few more outgoings as the Black Cats look to move on the likes of Ian Poveda and Abdoullah Ba.
To that end, they have already been able to shed themselves of Joe Anderson to Barrow and Timothee Pembele on loan to Le Havre.
Arthur Masuaku has joined Lens on loan, and one must assume that is a move engineered with the aim of making it permanent in the summer, and Dan Neil has effectively called time on his Sunderland career with a loan move to Ipswich Town until the summer, when he becomes a free agent.
That is a move which perhaps jars with fans in that Neil is Sunderland through and through and many have expressed their disappointment he was never given a chance in the Premier League.
It's a good move for Neil, though, to a club on the cusp of a possible return to the top flight, and they play a brand of football which plays to Neil's strengths.
Timor Tutierov has joined League One Exeter City until the end of the season, which is a great development move for the Ukrainian, who has hit the ground running in the West Country.
As for those incomings. There's no doubt Sunderland are in the market for wingers and a forward, but as Le Bris was at pains to point out, they cannot afford a "ready-made" player in those positions.
Their market, in line with the identity of the club, is young players they can develop, and Brian Brobbey was offered as a good example – a raw 23-year-old on the up who hopefully Sunderland will polish and sharpen.
In that vein, 20-year-old winger Jocelyn Ta Bi joined from Israeli side Maccabi Netanya earlier this month, and he is seen as one for the future.
Keeper Marcus Ellborg, 22, has also arrived for £3m from Malmo as back-up to Robin Roefs.
January is generally not the month to spend because clubs are mindful they hold all the cards.
Sunderland may yet be tempted to sell someone like Wilson Isidor or Romaine Mundle, but the price will have to be right, and they won't be allowed to go if Le Bris doesn't feel he has sufficient replacements.
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