David Artell believes that the January transfer window will be a late burner and that the main movement will occur in the last few days of the month. The Alex boss recently missed out on one possible loan target with the defender electing to move elsewhere but he and his staff are continuing to assess the market.

Artell has made no secret of the fact that we would like to add two full-backs to offer cover and competition to the impressive Perry Ng and Harry Pickering but he says that he cannot and will not guarantee any loanee coming in a first-team place. They will have to compete for a shirt like anyone else and Artell admits that this can be a stumbling block when it comes to negotiations.

The Crewe boss told the club’s official website: “I believe that more players will come available and look to move when the deadline is a few days away. I think that players will become reasonably priced as we head towards the window closing.

“I am sure that players, agents and clubs are holding out for as long as possible but eventually something will have to give and the movement will start.

“We are not just waiting for something to drop into our lap. We are out watching players and we are ready to move. What we want is good players to improve us and that is difficult when we have the best right back in the division and Harry Pickering at left-back, who is going to be a top player as well.

“It is difficult to find someone better than them two and it is a challenge because you can speak to a club and they will say that their player has to play and I understand that but no one is guaranteed a place. I wouldn’t even guarantee Perry or Harry a start, so why should offer that to a loan player?

“They have to come here and fight for their place like anyone else and in some way we are the victims of our own good players in those positions.”