IT sounds a bit odd saying Cherries have made a flying start to the winter window when you boil the club’s transfer activity down to losing a club legend, before bringing in a teenager and another youngster on loan.

Of course, that is a rudimentary way of viewing the Dorset side’s early business dealings, but at most clubs such a sequence of events would spark outcry and concerns.

Dig deeper into the players brought in and the circumstances behind Steve Cook’s departure, you can start to see why the near universal opinion is one of positivity.

So far, the decision to drop Cook from the team has proven to be correct, with the side near top of the league. You can’t really argue with that, and the fact the side is doing well will account for some leeway in the eyes of fans.

In my opinion, freezing Steve Cook out of the first team picture at Cherries wasn’t the best idea – not only for semantic reasons. Personally I feel that Cook still had a lot to offer, but what Scott Parker and the club can be applauded for is that fact that they have stuck to their guns and dealt with what was a difficult situation as best they could, even if the road that got them there was bumpy.

Could aspects of the decision to part ways have been smoother? Potentially, but by quickly arranging a transfer to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest, the club has at least done right by the player in that regard.

Some sides might have tried to have their cake and eat it, by ensuring that a departing player signed for a non-divisional rival, or perhaps negotiated for a higher-fee.

Instead, Cherries knew that it was best to resolve the situation as soon as possible – allowing everyone to move on.

It’s that decisiveness that can be seen in the acquisitions of Ethan Laird and James Hill. Just the mere fact that Cherries secured the signature of Hill amidst interest from Premier League sides proves how attractive the club is at the moment, with the deal relatively risk-free yet with the future in mind.

If the Dorset club do not go on and secure promotion this season, then the signing of Hill will not hamper them going forward. The same goes for Laird – if Cherries don’t make it back to the promised land of the Premier League, life will go on, with no financial millstones around the neck.

But if the club do achieve their main goal this campaign, the building blocks have been put in place for Laird to remain on the south coast – with reports of an extension to the loan if Cherries are a Premier League side for the 2022-23 season.

This forward-thinking highlights a club making the right moves in difficult circumstances. Clubs are rumoured to have shied away from transfers this window, with top flight sides unwillingly to relinquish promising youngsters in case of COVID decimating their senior squads.

With that big goal in mind, Cherries have waded through the uncertainty, whilst refusing to jeopardize their future. Will Hill be a major difference in Cherries’ promotion bid? In terms of minutes on the pitch, potentially not.

By bringing in Hill now, the youngster can become settled, accustomed to life with the Cherries, prior to any potential campaigns in the Premier League. It may seem small, but alongside the advantage of beating other clubs to his signature, a small edge can be the difference in football.

The capture of Laird is another well-measured move. Rather than take a gamble on a player from a big academy that has not played at this level, Cherries have managed to draft in a player who has already proven he can cut it in the second tier.

On top of that, Laird is in form and full of confidence, meaning he is ready to hit the ground running straight away.

Spending millions in January, chasing big names in order to immediately improve a side can smack of desperation and end in tears.

Of course, rumours will always whirl around clubs in January.

Cherries' interest in a back-up to Dom Solanke is genuine, with their approach to finding the right player one of caution. Kieffer Moore would certainly offer something very different to the Dorset side, but the club are very unlikely to go anywhere near the £10m reportedly wanted by Cardiff.

The fact that Cherries' quick start to the window has faded is a positive sign that the club are truly running the rule over any potential signings. When you are involved in a promotion race, transfers in January have even more factors to consider.

A proven striker at a Championship level may boost chances of promotion but prove ineffective in the Premier League, whilst younger prospects may not have an immediate impact this season, but go on to thrive at a higher level in later years.

Too many times have sides rushed into bringing players in with the view of securing promotion, only for the club to remain in the same division with a larger wage bill and no extra cash to pay for it.

Cherries' business so far has been sensible, with deals made that will not burden the club financially.

Now the bigger question will be asked - do they stick or twist?

Do they play it safe, or go for it? Annoyingly for Cherries, I don't think there is a perfect solution.

With fans clamour for a striker to supplement (and compliment) Solanke, the best bet for the club would be to bring in a striker happy to play second-fiddle, yet proven at a Premier League level - whilst not breaking the bank.

That's a long list of demands, to the extent such a transfer seems unfeasible at the moment.

The only players that fit the bill are either at rivals for promotion (Charlie Austin and Andre Gray at QPR, for example) or currently in the Premier League already - meaning that Cherries would have to splash the cash on either the transfer fee or wages - perhaps even both.

I really do not envy the task at hand. I think the most likely solution is to bring in a player that can score goals in the Championship, on a six-month loan - à la Kenwyne Jones.

Jones only played six times and scored once, but at the end of the day, Cherries won promotion without risking too much financial capital. A short-term deal could help Parker's men over the line, allowing for a permanent transfer to be found in the summer.

A similar deal could prove to be the making of Cherries' season - or the current crop of players may continue to succeed, and earn promotion on their own.

Only time will tell, but Cherries are running out of it before the window closes.

Do you think Cherries still need to strengthen? Should the club play it safe of splash the cash in order to boost their promotion chances?