Dundee United boss Tam Courts is hopeful Ilmari Niskanen can be one of his “reinforcements” before the transfer window shuts.
With just over two weeks to go until the end of summer trading, Courts says United are “getting closer” to doing a deal for Finnish winger Niskanen.
The 23-year-old, currently with Bundesliga 2 side Ingolstadt, has six caps for Finland and has been a target of the Tangerines’ for over a year.
Courts would like to add him to his squad, alongside a couple more, with Marc McNulty set to re-sign with the club, too.
Niskanen ‘a work in progress’
“He’s one we like but we’ve got the work permit situation with him,” the Terrors gaffer said.
“We’re working our way through that at the moment but we’re getting closer.
“It’s a work in progress.
“Hopefully reinforcements are coming in soon.
“That’ll be linked to anyone that potentially does go out as well.
“In total, we wanted to make three or four signings and I still see that being the case having brought in Trevor Carson and Charlie Mulgrew.”
English interest in Fuchs and Robson
In terms outgoings, rumoured English interested in Jeando Fuchs (Peterborough United) and Jamie Robson (Lincoln City and Sunderland) is yet to emerge as anything concrete, according to Courts.
Both players were excellent in United’s 1-0 win over champions Rangers at Tannadice last weekend, with left-back Robson netting the crucial goal.
He continued: “I’ve not heard anything but I thought Jeando performed really well against Rangers last weekend.
“For a player that’s looking to build a profile, that was a great opportunity to show what he’s all about.
“I thought you saw he’s a match for anyone in the country on his day.
“Players like Jeando are going to attract a lot of interest – in the last year of his contract and with aspirations as an international player.
“As for Jamie, nobody’s met his valuation yet.
“It’s one that could progress but I don’t know if it’s imminent or not.
“There seems to be a bit of interest and, hopefully, the goal last weekend and his performance puts his valuation up a little bit!”
Chalmers ‘out for a few weeks’
On the injury front, while Flo Hoti (heel) and Louis Appere (thigh) are progressing well in training and are in contention for tomorrow’s Premier Sports Cup last-16 clash at Ayr United, there is bad news about Logan Chalmers.
The kid winger had to limp off early in the second half of the Tangerines’ historic Rangers win, with boss Courts now saying the 21-year-old could be facing “a few weeks” out with a calf problem.
He commented: “We had a bit of bad news with Logan Chalmers and his calf.
“There’s a bit of a problem there and it looks like he’ll be out for a few weeks.
“It’s disappointing.
“There’s a few other knocks and niggles, Calum Butcher and Mark Reynolds, so we are a wee bit like the walking wounded just now.
“It’s the same guys going to the well every week just now but our performance against Rangers set the standard.”
Quarter-final carrot for Tangerines
Regardless of their injury concerns, Courts is targeting a win over Championship outfit the Honest Men as United hope to take a big step forward in their cup goals.
He added: “It’ll be a very tough game but the polar opposite from last weekend.
“Somerset Park is a tricky place to go.
“It’ll be blood, sweat and tears and the carrot of a quarter final is huge.
“We need to prove we can go to a completely different venue and really grind out a win.
“It’s huge for the club to have a cup run.
“I’ve said from the outset, we wanted to get through the group, be seeded and now capitalise on getting into the quarter final. That’s the target.”