​ If Manchester United were to let Marouane Fellaini leave in this transfer window, it would be a mistake. Plain and simple. He offers a great deal to the squad in terms of versatility and adding an extra dimension, so to move him on would be short sighted to say the least.
We now know that AC Milan almost certainly won't be taking Fellaini this January. Rossoneri chief executive Adriano Galliani recently confirmed that while he is a keen admirer of the player, there is "no way" that an agreement will be struck.
But what was disturbing is that so many United fans were jumping for joy when it looked like the Belgian was actually going. And those same people will be praying that something else comes up before the deadline on 1st February.
Fellaini has had a raw deal off supporters ever since he joined United. That is, barring a few weeks in March and April in 2015 when he was in an excellent run of form, perhaps highlighting the fickle nature of many modern 'fans'.
As the only major signing in the summer of 2013, he unfairly bore the brunt of the frustrations that should have been directed at David Moyes and Ed Woodward. Injury and niggling fitness issues then prevented him from making any kind of impact in his debut season as a United player.
To put it bluntly, he was never given a chance by people who immediately decided he was going to be a flop. Even when he did start performing under the tutelage of Louis van Gaal, 'begrudging' is an appropriate word one could use when talking about how that that particular upturn was viewed.
The summer arrivals of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Anthony Martial increased the competition for places, but Fellaini doesn't have to be a regular starter to still be an invaluable member of the squad at Old Trafford.
Against Bournemouth in December, he looked to be only United player that offered any attacking threat and was rewarded with a goal. If he's going to play in an advanced role he needs service, and if he's deeper there are few better in the league at bullying opponents.
Fellaini can terrorise even the best Premier League players - that much was clear when he used to play against United and other big clubs in his Everton days. And to deridingly call him a 'Plan B player' really isn't accurate, although it certainly doesn't hurt that he has that ability in his locker.
It probably won't now happen in this window, but i t would be a mistake for United to let Fellaini leave and fans need to understand that.