HARRY REDKNAPP knows what he wants during the transfer window: "Someone with a bit of front."

The new Saints boss wants to bring in "two or three players" next month and says he needs people who are guaranteed to have an impact both on and off the pitch.

"I need someone I know can do the job," he said. "You need people you can rely on. I need people who will get stuck into a relegation battle and try to help us out of it.

"They are a good lot of lads. There's no bad apples among them - they are a terrific bunch of fellas, and I'm just getting to know them at the moment.

"We've got a quiet group of lads. I've got to find two or three players from somewhere. We need a bit of front and cockiness or whatever it takes. We need that bit of character.

"We could do with a Robbie Savage. You need one or two like that. We're not going to get him, but that's the type we need - someone with a bit of front and confidence."

Redknapp stressed that he felt the current squad was good enough to pull clear of the relegation zone, but is determined to improve the balance of the team.

"There are areas that we need to strengthen, we're not second from bottom because there's not work to be done," he said.

"The midfield is an area we need to improve - that's for sure. There's several parts where we are very strong.

"It's just that bit of quality. We have got a fantastic goalkeeper, up front we are strong, it's just one or two other areas where the balance of the team isn't quite right.

"They are good lads, good pros. We need a bit of pace in certain areas, it's just getting a blend and getting the right balance."

Redknapp played down speculation linking him with Chelsea's Joe Cole and his son Jamie at Spurs.

"There's nothing in it at the moment, but I'm going to bring in some players for sure," he said.

"I've got no chance of getting Joe Cole - I'd love to get him, but they're not going to loan him out.

"The problem is the big clubs keep their players. They are fighting on four fronts, they're not going to give anyone away.

"If I can get free-transfers or loans to make a difference I could do it that way."

Of reports linking James Beattie and Antti Niemi with moves, Redknapp was adamant that he wanted to keep his best players.

"We've got to stay in the league," he said. "You've got to keep hold of the goalkeeper and hopefully Beattie as well - he can get us the goals to stay up.

"If I can get one or two in for January maybe we can change the way we play a bit. For now I've got to pick the right team to get some results from what I've got."

Redknapp added that his former Pompey assistant Jim Smith could now arrive at St Mary's next week - though speculation in the East Midlands continues to link him with the now vacant manager's job at Nottingham Forest. Smith spent six years as Derby boss from 1995 to 2001 and his highly regarded in the area.