Darrell Clarke coy on Walsall transfer business

The Saddlers have made three loan signings this month, bringing in young talents Tyreik Wright, Jayden Reid and Frank Vincent.

However, interest in their star players has been high, with Elijah Adebayo and Zak Jules linked to moves elsewhere.

When asked if the club will move to do any business before Monday's 11pm deadline, Clarke said: "Who knows what the window is going to bring.

"It's common knowledge that there's interest in some of our players but for me the focus is on Saturday.

"The window shuts at 11pm Monday night, we'll see where we are after that.

"My focus is to try and get three points against a team in Mansfield that are in a bit of form.

"We'll let the other stuff take care of itself, it normally does. There's a lot of work going on on both sides of the coin.

"We'll see where we are on Tuesday morning.

"I've been here quite a few times as a manager and lost key players in windows.

"All I'd say is that as a manager you have to adapt to whatever comes, and I will do.

"We'll move forward and see what happens. As a manager you want to keep your best players at the football club.

"Also you're realistic as a lower league manager that sometimes it's the case."

Liam Kinsella and Alfie Bates both signed new deals earlier this month, keeping them at the club until 2023.

With a large number of the squad out of contract in the summer Walsall have been negotiating to sign more up to new contracts.

But when asked if any more new deals are expected soon, Clarke was not forthcoming in his response.

"As soon as we do it'll go through the official website. We'll see what develops," he said.

When asked if he is still working on getting players new contracts he added: "No, I'm sat at home having a cup of tea and just chilling out. What do you think I'm doing? Of course I'm working on stuff.

"It's not rocket science, you always want to keep your best players at the football club but you're not going to come to the press every minute and say we've sat down and discussed a new contract.

"What do you think that does? It alerts other club's doesn't it.

"I know you have to fill your back pages and your websites but all it does is alert other clubs that you're trying to keep your best players.

"That's when the thousands and millions of agents want to jump on the bandwagon.

"As soon as we have a deal in place, like we did with Kinsella and Bates, we'll let people know.

"Other than that I'll always do the best as I can in business unless I'm really frustrated, which I am a little bit now."