January transfer window: Aston Villa closing in on double swoop

The manager has verbally agreed a loan deal for one player and hopes to reach agreement with another by the end of Friday, as he seeks to strengthen Villa's squad for a promotion push.

Though the identities of the players is not known, one is thought to be a goalkeeper, with Bruce keen to stress he will only bring in players to improve on those he already has.

When asked about his plans for the upcoming window, Bruce replied: "I already have one I hope in the bag, verbally. That will be good for us.

"By this afternoon I possibly could have two, which would be a really good addition to us."

Any deals cannot be formally agreed until the window opens next month.

Bruce added: "I will only bring in people now who will improve the squad dramatically. In the past, if I am going to be critical, I don't think that has been the case here.

"We have just brought in numbers and I think that is a mistake. If you only bring in numbers to fill up the squad then you don't become better. We have to have a squad which is highly competitive and making sure we do become better.

"The players who have been here this last eight weeks have done well, in general. I don't have to make wholesale changes because for the last eight weeks we are on course."

Villa host Wigan tomorrow aiming to bounce back from the first defeat of Bruce's reign at Leeds last weekend. Striker Ross McCormack is available after recovering from an ankle injury, though defender Nathan Baker (groin) will again miss out.