I mean we did sign Kone, Alcaraz, Robles, Rondon, Allan..
And Moyes has signed multiple players more than once - Fellaini, Gravesen, Oviedo, Gibson, Lescott, Pienaar, etc and brought 3 players he had at Man Utd to Sunderland.
So it does happen.
Rondon is probably the only one on that list that fell into the ‘ffs no’ category when we bought him. It was desperate times though when we had hardly any money and he was free and had played in the PL.
We just don’t do it as many times as people think we do. Outfield player signings in recent windows:
Summer 25/26: Dibling, Rohl, Grealish, Alcaraz, KDH, Barry, Aznou
Jan 24/25: Alcaraz
Summer 24/25: O’Brien, Ndiaye, Iroegbunam, Lindstrom, Mangala, Broja
Summer 23/24: Beto, Chermiti, Danjuma, Young, Jack Harrison
Out of all of those perhaps only Young fits that profile of ageing crap player that everyone moans about us signing all window then it actually happens. Even then he didn’t do that badly for us. Harrison only really declined in his second loan here which was a mistake.
The rest though indicate that it’s far more likely we buy a player that doesn’t fit that profile.
TBH I wouldnt mind an experienced striker if one was available, imagine adding a Kevin Campbell type to this group.