Jon Whitney gives Walsall transfer update

The Saddlers are rapidly running out of time to bolster a squad light on numbers following the departures of loanees Tyler Roberts, Dan Agyeil, Zeli Ismail, James Wilson and Shaun Donnellan earlier this month.

But Whitney says there will be additions before the deadline passes with the boss still targeting a striker, winger and central defender.

Those deals may not be completed until the last minute though, with clubs eager to land their targets before letting other players leave.

"We have got an interest in several players," Whitney said.

"And we have had that interest with a couple of those players registered for a few weeks now.

"But like always, things happen at the last minute.

"Ideally we’d like permanent signings. We have spent a little bit more time on one permanent addition in particular.

"We could have brought loans in earlier but it would have been just to make up numbers.

"We want to make sure they are right for the group and we have got some longevity with them as well.

We understand the loan market may have to be used again. But we’ve got no loanees at the minute..

"Our plan is to reduce the loans and make more permanent signings so in the summer we are building towards next year."

Whitney admitted he would have preferred to had made some signings but now with the boss confirming he has missed out on some of his targets.

"There are many variables with every transfer," the 47-year-old continued.

"We have been after one player in particular.

"And there are three or four we have missed out on due to the different variables that are involved in a transfer. Location and things like that.

"But that is what we have to deal with, that is why we have to have as many targets as we can so we can work our way through the list.

"But we are still pushing for a few."