SWINDON Town’s loan move for Daniel Boateng may be taking longer than anticipated but the club remain hopeful of a deal being concluded by the end of the week, the Advertiser understands.

Boateng, an 18-year-old utility defender, has been targeted by Paolo Di Canio as the man to shore up his leaky defence.

Although news of the player’s potential arrival at Town came out after Wednesday’s Carling Cup win at Bristol City, there has been little sign of the Arsenal youngster’s switch being completed.

However, the Adver believes Town and Arsenal may come to the agreement by the end of the week, potentially allowing Boateng to take part in Saturday’s televised match against Rotherham at the County Ground.

Interim chairman Jeremy Wray said there was no progress to report as yet.

“There is no further news since Friday,” he told the Advertiser.

“Hopefully we can sort it out imminently.”

Meanwhile, Di Canio and the Robins welcome Southampton to SN1 this evening for a Carling Cup second round tie.

Saints are flying high in the Championship at present, having won four of their first five league games this term - an opposite record to Town.

On the face of it, the match presents a daunting task for Di Canio and his players, but the boss believes his squad has the quality to compete with their south coast guests.

“I am a manager of a League Two side and I need to be intelligent to understand the level and how the players I have can improve to be better than this level,” he said.

“Already I feel we have one or two players who can play in the Championship.

“I have to decide day after day how the player can improve and how they can play together.”