Nigel Pearson is expecting a relatively quiet transfer deadline day with Watford, although does not rule out any late arrivals.

The Hornets have been linked with several players throughout January and reports continue to suggest that they are searching for at least a defender.

Burnley’s Ben Gibson and Birmingham City’s Kristian Pedersen have both been named as defensive targets in recent days, while Hertha Berlin striker Davie Selke is also a name that has been identified as a potential signing by news outlets in Germany.

The Hornets did snap up 18-year-old goalkeeper Myles Roberts from Reading on Thursday, but he is thought to be one for the future rather than a first-team addition, while links to 20-year-old Burnley defender Teddy Perkins this evening suggest the club is more interested in investing in their youth rather than their first-team.

Pearson said he did not want to speculate about other team’s players and that he was happy with the players he had at his disposal.

“There’s not a lot of news to give you,” he said.

“I don’t talk about other people’s players. I’ve already said I’m pretty happy with the squad we have. If we can add players to make us more competitive, we may do it, but if it doesn’t happen I’ll also be okay.

“I don’t think this window is one we need to panic in. I don’t want too many players kicking around the place too far away from the team. We have areas might be beneficial to strengthen, whether we can actually achieve that or not will remain to be seen, but I don’t really believe in speculating on other people’s players.”

The head coach is also keen to hold on to as many of his own players as he can, with players like Isaac Success, Tom Dele-Bashiru and Domingos Quina all linked with moves to clubs in the Championship.

Success in particular has looked one of the most likely to move on, with Anderlecht, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town all making enquiries about the Nigerian’s availability. However, Pearson insists he wants to retain as many striking options as possible.

"I’m certainly not in a hurry to lose anybody from us as well,” he said.

“If there is a scenario where there is business done, it will be to add to what we already have, but outside of that, there’s no more details I’m afraid.

“[Success] is one of our players and I’m pleased to have him. He did well in the Under 23 game on Monday and it gives us options and I think when you’re in a situation where we’ve had our problems this season in terms of scoring goals and being creative and of course then winning games, it goes without saying that to have as many options as possible, moving into the last third of the season with availability of goalscoring players, it’s good to have that.

“I accept as well that if you’ve got too many players it can create a situation where players don’t know whether they’re going to get an opportunity, but I would rather have options to have potential goalscorers in the squad than not because we’re going to need to win enough games to retain our Premier League status.”

With late deals to be had head coaches will often spend transfer deadline day working to try and get deals done. However, when asked if he would be sitting with CEO Scott Duxbury and technical director Filippo Giraldi tomorrow evening, Pearson said there was no chance of that happening.

“I’ve never ever done that before, so I don’t intend to do it now,” he said. “This is on the assumption that we’re going to be doing business, so what’s the point in sitting looking at a phone? No chance.”