Strike action or ministry for the defence?

Following the collapse of the deal for Modibo Maiga, the Silver Fox may have declared that we wouldn't be pursuing a striker in January, but that hasn't stopped the media speculation. In recent days we've been linked with fanciful loan moves for Rocky - clearly lining up against his understrength former employers on Friday with a point to prove wasn't enough to rehabilitate his flagging career at Liverpool - and Juventus striker Vicenzo Iaquinta (at 32, too old for Jabba's tastes, surely?), as well as a permanent swoop for a Ryman League go-getter who is apparently available for £12,000 and for whom we'd be challenging the mighty Eastleigh.

If Bognor Regis' Jason Prior fits Jabba's bill - young and cheap - it's hard to imagine that he'd be quite up to Premier League standard. Just along the South Coast at Brighton, England U21 defender Lewis Dunk might, and he's also got youth on his side and plays in a position the Silver Fox has conceded need to strengthen - but the price tag would no doubt be less palatable to Jabba, given the number and stature of our rival suitors for his services.

Personally speaking, if we're looking close to home rather than abroad, I think we might be better served by trying to nobble one of Swansea's centre-backs - Ashley Williams or Steven Caulker, on loan at the Liberty Stadium from Spurs. Might Stoke's Matthew Upson be aggrieved at his bit-part role since joining from West Ham? Might the Hammers' James Tonkins be prised from the greasy palms of Fat Sam, someone who's unlikely to want to do us any favours? Time will tell.