SHAKERS manager David Flitcroft is primed to make it a hat-trick of signings in the first week of the transfer window as he bids to find a defender to add to new arrivals Hallam Hope and Nick Pope.

The Bury boss was quick off the mark to snare Hope, announcing his three-and-a-half-year deal on New Year’s Day after tempting the 20-year-old Everton striker into a permanent switch after spending two months on loan at the JD Stadium.

He was quickly followed by Pope, a 22-year-old goalkeeper from Charlton Athletic, who finalised a season-long loan on Tuesday and is available for selection for tomorrow night’s trip to Accrington Stanley.

Flitcroft also confirmed he intended to open talks with Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill in a bid to extend the stay of centre-back Adam El-Abd, whose loan deal at Bury runs out at the end of the month.

Yet after trimming his squad of available players down to 21 following the departure of Joe Widdowson and James Poole, whose contracts ran out at the weekend, the Shakers boss has not ruled out further comings and goings.

“If there are players out there that we feel can benefit Bury Football Club then we have got to make those decisions,” he said.

“We have got our targets. I think the biggest thing we have been able to do over the past 12 months is fit the DNA of the players we want against the players potentially coming in.

“Can they improve? Can we develop them as assets? That’s a massive part of the plan.

“We’ve got good experience in and around the squad, but certainly we are looking at a few different options at the minute.”

The assumption is that Flitcroft has his eye on players for the long term, possibly signing up youngsters he may be able to develop into saleable assets.

However, after starting the season without a specialist right-back, playing winger Craig Jones and utility midfielder Tom Soares, that position may well move to the top of his priority list after finally drafting in a new goalkeeper.

Pope, who has made eight starts for Championship side Charlton, kept 16 clean sheets in 24 appearances on loan at York in League Two last campaign and is likely to go straight into the starting line-up tomorrow night.

But after a number of recent loan players failed to work out for Flitcroft, including goalkeeper Scott Loach, the Bury boss revealed he would be more cautious when making short-term signings.

“In November, too many players came in at once who probably weren’t game ready,” he said.

“If you are getting them to the end of the season, you have got to utilise them over the 22 games, but I have got to get them game ready and that’s what we are looking at at the minute.”