Borussia Dortmund only ever planned to bring in Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi on loan, sporting director Michael Zorc has said.
Batshuayi arrived on a six-month deal from Chelsea on deadline day as Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completed his big-money move to Arsenal.
"We were not willing to splash out millions on a new number No. 9 under pressure," Zorc told local outlet Der Westen.
That means, as things stand, Belgium international Batshuayi -- looking for game time ahead of the World Cup -- will return to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
And Zorc said: "We made a conscious decision for a loan because the market is tight in the winter.
"We looked closely at several attackers. Michy Batshuayi is a very good solution."
While Dortmund did not splash millions on a new forward, they still made the German transfer window's biggest signing with the €18 million capture of Basel defender Manuel Akanji.
Football magazine kicker reported that the 18 Bundesliga clubs spent around €91m, over €5m less than last January and far from the €492m invested by Premier League clubs.
Kicker also reported that Dortmund had put the brakes on a possible loan move for Germany international Andre Schurrle following Andrey Yarmolenko's tendon injury.
Swansea were reportedly among the teams interested in offering former Chelsea star Schurrle a new start following his recent struggles.