HULL City boss Steve Bruce says he is searching for just "one or two" players in the January transfer window, with strikers Yaya Sanogo and Jermain Defoe prominent on his wish-list.
As well as retaining an interest in England forward Defoe, who is seeking a move back to the Premier League from Toronto FC, Bruce has revealed he has spoken with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger over the availability of Sanogo this month.
The France under-21 international has been lined up for a loan spell away from the Emirates for the remainder of the season and City are one of several clubs in the hunt.
With finances tight at the KC Stadium, filling the one remaining loan spot vacated by Hatem Ben Arfa last month is Bruce's priority, and he admits Sanogo is on his radar.
"I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the game and we're constantly on to the big clubs," said the City boss, ahead of Saturday's trip to West Brom.
"That includes Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea. They've got so many players out on loan that if you could nab one of their players for a few months then it's usually not a bad thing to do.
"Sanogo is a very good player. I like him a lot and it may be an option for us. I don't think we're alone in that one."
Sanogo, who came on as a substitute in Arsenal's FA Cup final win over City last May, will be sent out on loan this month with first-team opportunities limited with the Gunners.
French club Bordeaux had appeared to be in the driving seat but Wenger's preference is to find his rookie a Premier League club.
Sanogo has scored just once for the Gunners since arriving from Auxerre 18 months ago, but Bruce is an admirer of the powerful young forward.
He added: "I don't know how many starts he's had but he played against us in the cup final and I was very impressed with him. I saw him play for Arsenal against Dortmund in the Champions League as well.
"For the French under-21s he's been nothing short of fantastic. I saw a game when they beat England and I thought he was terrific.
"When you take a young boy, especially a striker, it's a question of whether they can come and do it. I took Nicklas Bendtner when he was 18 (to Birmingham) and he won me the Championship."
The competition for Sanogo leaves Bruce keeping his options open this month.
Negotiations have taken place with the representatives of Defoe as he bids to engineer an exit from MLS side Toronto, but a reported wage bill of £70,000 per week presents a huge obstacle even if signed on loan. QPR and Leicester have also declared their interest in Defoe.
"That (loan spot) opens something up for us. We'll be looking in that department for sure," said Bruce.
"The Jermain Defoe one is that sort of way I'd have thought, a loan deal. Maybe that's an option but I'm not too sure."
The onus for this month will be Bruce on securing quality, rather than quantity. Asked about the numbers targeted, he said: "Maybe one or two but as I've said repeatedly, I'm not going to bring people in unless they're really going to benefit us. Sometimes you bring people in just for the sake of it.
"I've got to be brave enough to think that maybe in three or four weeks that (Mo) Diame could be back.
"I don't think there's any chance with (Robert) Snodgrass but if there's somebody out there who could make a difference then we'll try and do that."
