LIVERPOOL boss Roy Hodgson has urged fans to be patient during the transfer window as most business won’t be conducted until late January.

Hodgson says the club’s search for new talent is focused on talented youngsters and players who can make a “big difference”.

“I would suggest things will probably happen later in January because that is normally the case,” he said. “A lot depends on other clubs, on their need to sell.

“Sometimes it’s easier in the summer because clubs think they can then use the money wisely to build their team.

“January is the window for agents and journalists. Every day my son scours the newspapers and tells me we’re linked with this player and that player, and a lot of them I can quite honestly say have never been mentioned.”

Hodgson insists he’s looking for quality rather than quantity to boost the Reds’ fortunes.

“We’re not looking to move anybody out and it would be nice if we could improve our squad with one or two players,” he added. “As I’ve said to the supporters many times, it’s important that we don’t just get bodies and numbers.

“We need people who are going to be very good long-term or players who are definitely going to make a big difference to us.

“I’m anxious that we spend our money wisely and that we keep the squad manageable.

“I don’t want to go back to a situation where we have an awful lot of players but many of them are training in a reserve group at Kirkby because they’re not first team material.

“But first team material costs money and they are not always available in January.

“I can assure the supporters that never a day goes by without me and Damien Comolli having lengthy discussions about it.”