Carlisle United No2 Lee Dykes says the Blues are hopeful of doing some more business before tonight's transfer deadline - but denied the Blues are in desperate need of more additions.

While departures are also possible at Brunton Park today - Aberdeen are interested in a surprise move for frontman Sam Cosgrove - Keith Curle's joint assistant boss said United will be "working very hard" to add more new faces ahead of the 11pm cut-off.

But Dykes suggested it would be no disaster if they are unable to do any more deals, following last Friday's double signing of Cole Stockton and Kris Twardek.

Asked if United were hoping to be active on the last day of the January window, Dykes said: "Yeah, absolutely - my phone will not be away from my ear between now and the end of the window.

"We are expecting, maybe, some things to happen. We're hopeful.

"Do we need it to happen? No. We've got a very competitive squad.

"[In the reserve game against Fleetwood] we had 15 players who aren't starting in our first team - experienced pros and young players - all putting good performances in."

While Curle remains on the chase of targets, another potential signing opted to move elsewhere.

That was Plymouth winger Gregg Wylde, who the News & Star understands had been in the Blues' sights.

The 26-year-old Scot instead joined Morecambe on loan until the end of the season.

In an interview with the Shrimps' website Wylde confirmed he had spoken to United.

"I spoke to a few clubs - I spoke to Carlisle, I spoke to Dunfermline and a few other clubs in Scotland - then [Plymouth's former Morecambe defender] Ryan Edwards asked if I would be interested in coming here.

"I spoke to the manager [Jim Bentley] on the phone, he was a pleasant guy to talk to, so I thought I'd give it a go."

The possibility of departures also remains alive, and after reports last night linking Cosgrove with Aberdeen, the News & Star understands there has indeed been contact between the two parties regarding the young striker.

Talk of a deal having already been done appears to be premature but the Scottish Premiership club have made their interest known in the player, who was not involved in Carlisle's reserve game against Fleetwood yesterday.

United have not commented on the Cosgrove situation.

The future of Mark Ellis remains in the balance, with his fate likely to hinge on the financial terms of any departure, Tranmere having shown strong interest in the centre-half as we revealed yesterday.

If it is a loan move that materialises for Ellis, that could be done after tonight, with non-league clubs able to sign players on loan outside the January window, although a permanent departure today cannot be ruled out either.

While United's bosses had one eye on transfer work, Curle and Dykes also ran the rule over fringe players, youth players and trialists in yesterday's 2-1 friendly win over Fleetwood.

Richie Bennett and Samir Nabi scored for the Blues, with Dykes declaring himself pleased with what he had seen.

"Fleetwood are a good club and we have close links with the staff there - I used to work with Paul Murray at Oldham - so whenever we get an opportunity, and it works for both parties, it's good to be able to play them," Dykes said.

"It was a good test for us and a good test for them.

"I thought the young lads who came in were excellent, and the lads just needed minutes in their legs, in the lead up to the end of this month when we'll play Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday.

"We've had a couple of new bodies come in the building, and the transfer window's got [time] left, so it was good for them to get the manager's eye again.

"It can be unfair on the lads, if they haven't played in two months and then get 15-20 minutes to go and force a claim on a Saturday when a lot's at stake, especially if they've been out injured and they're coming back.

"It was just good for them to play in a less pressurised environment, and it was a good tempo. Young and experienced players acquitted themselves well."

Dykes said United would make quick decisions on the trialists who featured - one a striker, another a midfielder.

"One is an immediate option, potentially, and one going forward into the summer," he said.

On the youth team players who were involved, Dykes added: "Make no mistake, there's a couple of young lads in the building who've got big futures. These are the games for them, their examination to say they are ready."