Tom Pope is expected to play against Barnsley for Port Vale tomorrow but Reds manager Danny Wilson then hopes to sign him on Monday's transfer deadline day.
The 29-year-old is one of Wilson's top priorities for the 'targetman striker' he has been hunting. The former Rotherham striker started the season with nine goals in 17 games then missed three months with injury but returned to action last week and could start for Vale tomorrow.
Reds owner Patrick Cryne is willing to back his manager once again during this window with six-figure transfer fees and good wage packages for League One. But Pope is understood to be on a very lucrative contract at Vale which runs out at the end of the season. Barnsley will have to decide whether to pay a fee for him on Monday or wait until the summer when he will be a free agent but there could be several other clubs interested.
Wilson told the Chronicle: "We are still looking at Tom, whether we get him or not is a different matter. "He's someone we have been in touch with and he's somebody that we think can help us. We'll have to wait and see if that happens. We want to do it in this window."
The other position Barnsley are particularly interested in is wide midfield. The deal for Blackburn Rovers winger John O'Sullivan – which was agreed with the club and player – looks unlikely to happen as their manager Gary Bowyer is reluctant to let him leave permanently or on loan despite not playing him.
Wilson said: "There hasn't been any movement on that one and we've got to move on and look elsewhere in case it doesn't come off. I don't think Blackburn are letting anyone out at the moment because of the transfer embargo. That's up to them."
Barnsley may now look for an older player than O'Sullivan, 21, with Wilson saying: "We need some experience and strength. We have got a little bit of it at the back but not in the forward areas. We have always said we want experience and I would like to think that's what we will bring in during this window. Young lads make mistakes and they need experienced players around them to help them through times like this."
Wilson said he would like to bring in at least seven players in January and has recruited five so far. Chief executive Ben Mansford admits the Reds do not know how many will end up signing on transfer deadline day which is traditionally unpredictable.
Mansford said: "You never know, we could get offered a player which we weren't expecting and decide to go for it. "It has to be the right player on the right contract. We have our targets and we won't compromise. January is not a good time to do business. Clubs are reluctant to let players go and there is a temptation to panic. But we can't make any decisions that aren't right for the club."
Meanwhile, defender Reece Brown has not trained with the club since last Thursday and the termination of his contract was announced this morning. Wilson said: "Reece has left the club. "We have seen the emergence of James Bree and Mason Holgate who have gone in front of him at right-back. Sometimes we sign players and it just doesn't work out."
The deadline for permanent signings is 11pm on Monday and the emergency loan window opens a week later.
