TRANMERE Rovers aim to strengthen the playing squad and improve their League One position as they move into the second half of the campaign with a home game against Brentford tomorrow.
Manager Les Parry is looking to add a couple of loan signings to his selection options before the close of the January transfer window and will be asking Everton counterpart David Moyes about extending José Baxter’s loan into a fourth month.
The talented 19-year-old attacker, who has been at Prenton Park since the end of September, is on a youth loan, which provides greater flexibility than conventional emergency loans.
Parry makes no secret of his wish to sign a striker to improve Rovers’ modest goalscoring record and missed out last week when target Jake Jarvis of Birmingham City made a temporary move to Preston.
Baxter’s current loan arrangement runs out after the Brentford game and Parry says he is “not counting any chickens” that an extension will be waved through from Goodison.
Parry added: “We have got calls in at the moment to four Premier League clubs about players. We are looking to strengthen, to bring a little spring into the place with a new face or two.
“It does not matter how well you’re doing, a fresh face always lifts the place. Even teams at the top of the division realise that. They are constantly bringing in loan players as well.”
Tranmere used up some of the budget for loan players by extending the stay of Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Rachubka into a second month this week. American-born Rachubka is covering for the absence of Tranmere’s regular number one Owain Fon Williams, who is recovering from a broken hand.
Parry said: “Some loan players are need to have, some are nice to have. Paul is a need to have. It means we’re not worrying about pushing Fonners back in before he is ready.”
Tranmere reached the midway point of the campaign with 29 points on the board, which puts them on target to better last season’s comfortable finish on 56 points.
