Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen still expects goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima to arrive on Tayside during the festive period.
Kawashima emerged as a United target in the first days of November but the Japanese goalkeeper’s arrival has been delayed by work-permit issues.
The 32-year-old international sat an English exam in his native Japan last week to complete the process but doubt was cast on his arrival this week when reports claimed Dutch side NEC Nijmegen could hijack the signing.
But Paatelainen has dismissed those fears.
The Finn said: “Eiji will come here in a week or so.”
Paatelainen has also brought in Gavin Gunning, Guy Demel and Florent Sinama Pongolle since taking over in October while Jordan Moore became the latest player to leave this week following the exits of loan pair Aaron Kuhl and Adam Taggart.
And the former Kilmarnock and Hibernian boss expects more transfer activity when the window opens.
“We’re hoping to bring in one or two in January,” he said. “There will be one or two leaving also, I would expect, but it’s not 100 per cent.”
Meanwhile, the United boss wants his side to use the pain of losing an injury-time equaliser to Inverness to drive them on when they host Motherwell on Boxing Day as they bid to cut the gap at the foot of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
“When you concede an equalising goal 30 seconds before the final whistle, it is a kick in the teeth,” he said.
“But that makes us stronger, it makes us even more determined to work hard.
“We are getting closer to victories and we will get there.”