Crewe Alexandra’s assistant manager, Kenny Lunt, is pleased that our patience in the transfer market paid off with the signing of the German born forward Bassala Sambou on an 18 month deal. The striker, who was previously with Coventry City and Everton as a young player joins the club after a stint in Holland and Lunt is pleased that the first signing is over the line in what is always a difficult window to operate in.

Lunt is hoping that the arrival of Sambou will be the first of a few over the last remaining days of the window.

As he explained to the club’s official website: “It can be a difficult window because every club is after the same available players at our level, so when you see a good one you have to try and get in there before the others. Everyone is after good players that can make a difference in the final months of the season and we are no different.

“There can be little things that get in the way of the deal and there can be hold ups but if you hang in there and be patient enough then you can get some of your number one targets.

“If you can’t get those you have to go to plan B, or plan C, so in that respect January can be a good window as it gives you an opportunity to improve but can also be a frustrating  one.

He added: “If you can more right than not and you can improve then it gives you the chance to achieve what you want. We want to survive in this league, so we will do everything we can to get a few more in if we can.”