Town manager Joe Royle says that he could finally make a loan signing by the end of this week, ahead of Saturday's home game with Millwall. The identity of the player is being kept under wraps until the deal has been confirmed.

Royle said: “We're as close as we've ever been - I'm just waiting for a call to say whether we have a deal or not."

"It is someone I have been talking to, as well as his club and his agent, for a few weeks now.

"The reason I don't want to say too much is that if it comes to nothing it just looks like a puff of dust and we're no further forward."

Royle says that Town could hear more later this afternoon: "There are meetings at lunchtime today between the player, his agent and his club. I am waiting to hear the outcome.

"It would be nice for the last quarter of the season - the home run if you like - to bring in a new player who can have a big impact in that time.

"I would like him to come in this week and stay through to the end of the season, but it is more likely to be an initial one-month deal.

"But we've been close before and it hasn't come off, so I don't want to name names at this stage. The best I can say is that I'm hopeful we can sort something out."

Royle has been looking for additions to his squad for a number of weeks. Full-backs were his priority for a time, particularly during the period when Fabian Wilnis was out injured.

However, he has also targeted strikers, including Reading's Shaun Goater, with Town's goalscoring on the wane in recent months.

Liverpool front man Neil Mellor is reported to be a potential Town target, the youngster having recently left a loan spell at West Ham and a player who Royle is known to rate. Whether he is the player currently in Town's sights remains to be seen.

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