At the time of writing, seven Premier League clubs are yet to make January additions.
Managers often bemoan the fact that they are dictated to when it comes to bringing players in, yet many are failing to make the most of their window of opportunity.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will point to the fact that his side are sitting pretty at the top of the table and are blessed with a squad already brimming with world-class talent – with Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado seemingly the only player in his thoughts.
At Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers splashed the cash last summer, with an elaborate spending spree seeing more than £100 million leave the Anfield bank balance.
Tottenham Hotspur have also worked hard during recent windows to address areas in need of minor tweaking and may feel that they already have enough at their disposal without dipping into a market where fees tend to be inflated well beyond what any given player would be worth a few months down the line.
There are, however, a few coaches yet to make a move that appear to be playing a dangerous game.
This is not the time to make snap judgements, panic buy and do more damage than good. It is, however, a chance to work on ranks that are clearly in need of a facelift.
Those currently languishing inside the relegation zone, or just above it, have a matter of hours in which to make final alterations to their respective playing staffs.
Once the deadline passes that is it, the window will be bolted and bosses will have to make do.
They will not want to be left reflecting on what might have been. Could we have got him? Should we have looked at them? What if we had met that asking price? All questions which must be avoided.
Steve Bruce is among those facing up to a potentially pivotal few days. Hull City find themselves in trouble for a reason, with many of their summer deals failing to deliver.
If they were sat in mid-table, there would then be an argument for keeping the faith and giving fresh faces a little longer to find their feet. This, though, is not the time nor place.
The Tigers may still be fancied within Premier League bookmakers to get their head above water, but they cannot afford any more mistakes and cutting their losses on the deadwood could be the best approach.
The same cannot be said for Burnley, another of those to have enjoyed/endured a quiet opening to the New Year, but they also have big decisions to make before February 2.
Sean Dyche has his hands tied slightly by a tight budget, but any money he can get his board to part with needs to be spent, and spent wisely.
The Clarets came up with a small squad and should be applauded for giving those that got them this far the opportunity to cement a standing among the elite.
Depth is a vital commodity at the highest level, though, and Dyche could do with a few options, with it also vital that Danny Ings is retained – even with his contract running down – through to the end of the campaign.
Of the others yet to dust off the cheque book, Newcastle United are without a permanent man at the helm and may decide to wait until the summer before making further moves, while Everton appear reluctant to do anything drastic and have full faith in their underperforming squad to turn the corner.
It promises to be an intriguing end to the month, though, with there a number of managers that may decide to move late in an effort to spark, or salvage, their 2014/15 campaign.
