Transfer deadline day comes around twice a year, every year. And yet, football clubs, despite having entire summers and all of January to get their deals done, often leave things late - and Manchester United are no different.
In the case of the summer transfer window, teams have months to agree and finalise deals for players, but, more often than not, clubs still end up scrambling around for players.
As well as the signings, deadline day leads to player tantrums, dramatic buyouts and supporter meltdowns. From players falling asleep in the airport to *dodgy* fax machines - it simply never disappoints.
ALSO READ: John Murtough reveals what Antony did to impress Man United
Here, the Manchester Evening News look back at some of United's weirdest transfer deadline day moves over the years.
Andy Kellett joins United on loan
It is fair to say that nobody was expecting any major moves at Old Trafford as the minutes ticked by on deadline day in 2015.
With that in mind, then, it came as quite a shock when Bolton Wanderers man Andy Kellett signed for United on loan. The midfielder, who was a product of the Bolton academy and had spent time on loan at Plymouth, made the short trip to Manchester as his move was confirmed.
According to then Bolton manager Neil Lennon, Kellett believed that Lennon was "winding him up" when he mentioned United's interest in him.
Understandably, supporters were confused by the transfer, however, it quickly transpired that he had moved to Old Trafford to play for the Under-21s team as they were short on numbers, with Bolton having taken Reds youngster Saidy Janko on loan for the rest of the season.
Kellett went on to make nine appearances for the United youth team and helped them win the U21 Premier League championship alongside the likes of Adnan Januzaj, Andreas Pereira and Ashley Fletcher.
United's 'dodgy' fax machine
David de Gea, who had not played for United at the start of the 2015-16 season, was set for a £29m move to Real Madrid, with Keylor Navas heading in the opposite direction.
However, the deal spectacularly fell through after the deadline was missed by two minutes. La Liga giants Madrid claimed that United had replied to correspondence eight hours later and then only filed the completed deal to the Bernabeu at exactly 11pm.
As 11pm is the time of the deadline, Madrid could not confirm the transfer in time - with the Spanish side suspecting some form of skulduggery from the Premier League club.
United were quick to defend their actions and insisted that the club filed the transfer through two minutes before the deadline following negotiations involving admin errors from Madrid.
A statement from United later suggested that the club were more than happy to retain the Spaniard, which read: "The club is delighted that its fan-favourite double player of the year, David De Gea, remains a Manchester United player."
Frederic Veseli signs for United from rivals City
"Manchester United have completed the deadline-day signing of defensive prospect Frederic Veseli from neighbours Manchester City. [Veseli is] a versatile, cultured defender who is comfortable on the ball."
That is what United said upon announcing the arrival of youngster Veseli in 2012. The Swiss defender arrived at Old Trafford on a free transfer from City, despite never establishing himself as a first-team player with United's neighbours.
His move, which came as a shock to fans, came about after he grew frustrated at a lack of chances with City, but he also had limited opportunities with the Reds. He was a fixture in Warren Joyce’s Under-21 side for a season, but failed to make the first-team breakthrough.
After recording 23 appearances for the Under-21 side, Veseli was released by United – just 17 months after signing from City.
Falcao leaves it late
A lot of people - thousands perhaps - stayed up for this announcement. However, the 11pm deadline in the 2014 summer window had come and gone.
Two hours after the deadline had passed, there was still no update from United as to whether or not the club had completed a deal to sign striker Radamel Falcao on loan. Danny Welbeck had already completed a move to Arsenal at around 1am, so it did feel it was inevitable that the Colombian would arrived at Old Trafford.
Falcao was, at the time, one of the most feared strikers on the planet - so you can't blame United fans for being excited at the prospect of his arrival.
With people starting to get slightly nervous, United confirmed that a deal to sign the forward had gone through. He joined on loan from Monaco with an option to sign for £40million the following summer.
The moved promised so much, but it just didn't work. Unsurprisingly, after scoring just four goals in 26 matches, United didn't take up the option to sign Falcao permanently and he left the club after just one year.
Despite his underwhelming form at Old Trafford, Chelsea still opted to sign the Colombian - who scored even less goals for the Blues.
READ NEXT:
