Hull City will head into the final day of the winter transfer window looking to add one final piece of the jigsaw after a hugely productive month has seen their business largely done and dusted.

Seven players have so far arrived since the window opened on New Year's Day with Louie Barry the latest of those, joining on loan from Aston Villa last week and coming off the bench for his debut on Saturday, as City fell to another 2-1 home defeat, a result which left them teetering above the drop zone, two points above Derby County.

As it stands, City plan on signing just one player before Monday night's 11pm deadline, though as with anything to do with Hull City, you have to add the caveat that anything is possible, especially on deadline day.

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Ruben Selles' primary target is to bring in a defender to bolster their ranks at the back. The need to strengthen in that area was brought into sharp focus once again on Saturday as two awful defensive moments saw them throw away a deserved 1-0 lead against the Potters to lose 2-1.

Signing forward players has been at the top of Selles' agenda and the club have backed the Spaniard in that area with Eliot Matazo, Matt Crooks, Nordin Amrabat, Lincoln, Joe Gelhardt, Barry and Kyle Joseph all arriving to add strength in depth in the front third of the pitch, while Kasey Palmer isn't far off a return, but providing extra cover defensively is top of the agenda before the close of business.

Though bringing in a left-back was viewed as important by Selles, signing central defensive cover is being considered, and the Tigers are thought to be looking at an experienced Championship performer.

Having walked away from a move for Southampton's Charlie Taylor, Selles is happy to stick with what he's got on the left side of the back four, but bringing in cover can't be ruled out. The Tigers do have to be wary of the fact they have five loan players already in their squad, and any more would leave Selles with a decision he doesn't want to know.

Chris Bedia's departure on Sunday for Young Boys was the seventh first team departure this month, following on from Marvin Mehlem, Will Jarvis, Ryan Giles, Ryan Longman, Anthony Racioppi and Carl Rushworth, who was recalled by Brighton and was on the bench at the City Ground on Saturday as the Seagulls were edged out by Nottingham Forest in a seven-goal thriller.

If, as expected, City sign a defender, Andy Smith could be allowed to leave on loan with his opportunities likely to be limited with Fin Burns staying and Charlie Hughes edging closer to a return.

Brandon Fleming is expected to complete a move away in what would be his final move as a City player given his contract is set to expire this summer, while Xavier Simons will not be moving to AIK in Sweden but is expected to sign a loan with a view to a permanent move to a League One club.