Slavisa Jokanovic admits he is not especially happy with Watford’s failure to sign a centre-back and midfielder before the January transfer window closed.

The Hornets head coach had expressed on numerous occasions he wanted to add another centre back and midfielder to his squad before the window shut on Monday night.

However, the club’s stance was they would only sign players if they would command a place in the team and were unable to secure deals for suitable candidates.

Jokanovic was asked yesterday (Thursday) if he was frustrated with the club for not bringing in a defender and midfielder. He replied: “I am not especially happy with what we did in the transfer window.

“We spoke many times about that (signing a defender and midfielder) and I was looking at other dressing rooms and seeing if their players could help our dressing room.

“The transfer window is now closed and I must only work with my boys. I must push them to fight until the end of the season.

“I recommended what we needed and we signed Ben Watson, Miguel Layun and (Vujadin) Savic. I spoke about more players but we didn’t make these steps.”

He continued: “What we needed three weeks ago is the same, we still need players. But I will not waste my energy on this problem.

“I will try to improve the players and the team I have here. We are a Championship team and we have room to improve.

“How do we improve? By signing a player? Yes that is one way. The other way is to work with the guys we have.”

Jokanovic does not conduct transfer negotiations himself. That is handled by owner Gino Pozzo, sporting director Luke Dowling and chief executive Scott Duxbury.

Watford’s hierarchy learned from last year’s January deadline day additions of Samba Diakite and Chu-Young Park, who made only two starts between them, and resisted the temptation to make a panic signing.

However, the Golden Boys will look to add to their squad if an ideal target is available during the loan window, which reopens on Monday.

Jokanovic agrees with the club’s stance of not signing players who will just make up the numbers. He wants quality.

“It is important that we find players that can improve the team and that can offer us something in a short period,” he explained.

“Signing players just to add a player doesn’t make any sense. If we sign somebody it is because they can improve us and they might be better than what I have in my team.

“That is the situation. You asked me about the transfer window and I can’t be especially happy because I was expecting something more.

“I can’t make any further comment because that is our real situation.”

Players are only allowed to spend 93 days out on emergency loan during a season. For example Adlene Guedioura was at Watford for 36 days earlier this season so he would only be able to join a club for an additional 57 days.

Clubs who expect to finish in the play-offs can ensure a player is available by ending the initial emergency loan and then re-signing him again shortly afterwards, as long as it is before the March 26 deadline – for example either side of an international break.

Emergency loans can be extended for exceptional circumstances but it is believed reaching the play-offs would not fulfil the criteria.

One pitfall of all emergency loans is that the parent club can recall their player after the initial 28 days.

The Watford Observer understands the Hornets do not have any signings currently lined up.

The club did have two enquiries for Leicester City’s Liam Moore rejected. Moore was a regular for Nigel Pearson at the start of this season but is now fifth choice.

However, new signing Robert Huth and Matthew Upson have both played little football in recent months due to injury.

There were reports former AC Milan defender Luca Antonini turned down a move to Watford on Monday in favour of staying at Genoa, which the 32-year-old appeared to validate when he reposted an article on his Twitter page. However, we were told the club hadn’t tried to sign him.

Watford were also linked with former fans’ favourite Adrian Mariappa on deadline day and former Sunderland defender Modibo Diakite, but we have been told there have not been negotiations with either player or Crystal Palace.

We understand the Golden Boys had considered re-signing Guedioura at the start of January but that he is no longer a target.