Express & Star

Dean Keates plotting his January targets

Walsall boss Dean Keates has compiled his list of transfer targets as he bids to strengthen his squad in January.

Published

The 40-year-old has confirmed money is available for him to bolster his ranks next month.

And the boss also hinted their could be departures from the Banks’s Stadium next month.

“We have got a little bit left in the budget to go and strengthen in January,” the boss said.

“It’s just a case of looking and seeing what is around.

“A lot of the time you are dictated to be finances.

“But we have compiled a list of players we think will help us move forward.

“And we will do our best to add bodies to our squad.

“We haven’t got a number, we have got a list and we are openly looking.

“A lot depends on if we get any interest is in the players we have here.”

Keates currently has four players on loan with Jack Fitzwater, Kane Wilson, Connor Ronan and Connor Johnson all with the Saddlers on temporary deals.

And the boss said decisions on their futures will also be made in the next few weeks.

“There are options on them all,” Keates added.

“It’s something that we will talk about with the parent clubs.

"We’ll have to see if they are happy with the amount of minutes they are getting playing wise.

“They want to see us ticking their boxes but it’s the same for us, we want the players ticking the boxes performance wise.”