So apparently Manchester United went out and spent the Moon and stars to buy cover for a position that is not actually a problem for the struggling club.

Were we foolish to expect the close of the summer transfer window to be used wisely? Clearly so as the Red Devils have managed to acquire AS Monaco’s Radamel Falcao on a year long loan.

Where oh where does one even begin?

Manchester United waited until practically the last minute to bring in Falcao. They even required an extension to make sure the deal happened in time.

If Falcao addressed Manchester United’s issues on the field, this kind of trouble would be understandable.

But he doesn’t.

SECOND RECAP: Radamel Falcao signs for Man United and they have an option to BUY him #MUFC http://t.co/UNyksu504J pic.twitter.com/0Vq1QeRpsc

— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) September 2, 2014

It’s true that the 28-year-old is a talented forward. Some even boast that he has the talent to win games on his own.

That would be nice if Man United’s problem was a consistent inability to find the net. The true issue is a gaping defensive wound that third tier football teams are more than capable of tap-dancing through.

And then there is Falcao’s wages.

OH. MY. DEAR. GOD THE WAGES!

Manchester United are going to pay the Colombian striker around £365,000 or $600,000 per week. Some put the amount at £346,000.

Falcao to earn £346,000 a week, according to @MOgdenTelegraph. Huge salary. http://t.co/xA9JNDi6EH

— Anthony Lopopolo (@sportscaddy) September 1, 2014

Per week. For a loaned out player.

For perspective, their veteran skipper Wayne Rooney is currently on a salary that said to be slightly more than £300,000.

In fact it’s the wage bill that reportedly brought the total cost for Manchester United to have Falcao for a single season to around £24 million.
We’re talking the kind of money most clubs spend to buy a player for keeps. While Manchester United allegedly have an option to buy, you’d think they would have held off on spending this kind of money until AFTER they made Falcao a permanent part of their team.

Moving to @ManUtd was my decision. It's exciting to play at the world's best club and in such a competitive league.

— Radamel Falcao (@FALCAO) September 2, 2014

The truth of the matter is that Manchester United’s last minute antics would be called a massive “panic buy” if the act were committed by practically any other team in the Barclay’s Premier League.

And even without the overt acknowledgement, whose to say that it isn’t?

The panic comes in knowing that fans are anything but impressed with the Red Devils’ anemic start to their 2014-15 league campaign. Especially with no European football of any kind available. They’ve already crashed out of one domestic cup in a spectacular fashion (a humiliating 4-0 loss to MK Dons).

What purchases like this are ultimately meant to do is divert the attention of onlookers away from the train wreck that has been the last two years for this Manchester football club.

Now, it’s very possible that Falcao could go out and prove himself to be a miraculous revelation. He could singlehandedly lift the Devils up the league table.

For the money Manchester United have elected to spend at the close of the transfer window, all I can say is he’d better!