Dean Keates Working on Transfers as Deadline Day Looms

With a little more than a day to go in the January Transfer Window, Walsall manager Dean Keats has spoken to the local press and confirmed that he is hoping to add a couple of new signings to his squad before the window closes as he seeks to strengthen his squad ahead of the tail end of the campaign.

Keates, who has already added Matt Jarvis, Omar Mussa, Scott Laird, Cameron Norman, and Dan Scarr to his squad so far this month, is believed to be keen to add another striker to take the goal-scoring pressure off Andy Cook and boost his teams' hopes of avoiding being added to the relegation dogfight.

Along with the five new arrivals, the gaffer has also allowed wingers Josh Ginnelly and Kieron Morris to depart so could also add a wide player to his squad as, despite the quintet of signings, his options remain somewhat limited, especially if an injury were to pop up.

Dean, who was speaking via the Express & Star, said; "We need to make sure we go into the tail end of the season in the strongest position possible. We want to add a couple of bodies and hopefully that will be done.  We are looking at adding one or two in the next 24 hours. All being well we can get the right ones in."

Along with potential new arrivals the Walsall-born boss also refused to rule out more departures, he continued; "That is a possibility – anything can happen. It is going to go crazy over the next 24 hours and has already started picking up pace. The phone is non-stop.

"You can never say never in football. You think you might get something and then with one phone call, things change. We are trying to add, will players go out? That is also a possibility."