Millionaire poker star, sleepy Real Madrid loanee and FA Cup winner who had broken back among most bizarre January transfers

There are just some football transfers that make you stand up and say, 'Is this a joke?'

As clubs around the globe look to strengthen their squad at the midway point of the season, inflated prices often see teams having to get creative.

Utilising the loan market or trying to get a cut-price deal on soon-to-be free agents, the winter window has seen some truly bonkers signings.

And it should come as no surprise that most of these transfers were not worth the gamble.

In most cases, the players failed to win over their new managers — leaving fans perplexed as to how they were even considered in the first place.

There is always that one transfer every January that leaves supporters scratching their heads.

Whether that is Liverpool's swoops for Nat Phillips and Steven Caulker or Aston Villa deciding that Eric Djemba-Djemba was worth a punt after his ill-fated Manchester United spell.

talkSPORT.com runs you through five of the most bizarre transfers that have taken place in January.

A legend in Italian football, Mancini became Sven-Goran Eriksson's assistant manager while still playing for Lazio.

Still, Leicester decided the then-36-year-old could perform at the highest level as they brought him to the East Midlands on loan.

Despite being in the twilight of his career, Leicester fans were delighted by the arrival of the two-time Serie A winner.

But he made just four Premier League appearances before returning to Italy — citing personal reasons.

And he gave the Foxes the worst possible Valentine's Day gift by informing them he wouldn't be returning to England.

He subsequently landed his first managerial role at Fiorentina later in February.

Mancini's second spell in England was a happier time, where he guided Manchester City to FA Cup and