Karlan Grant and Terence Kongolo's imminent departures will not change Huddersfield Town's approach ahead of transfer deadline, says coach Carlos Corberan

Forward Grant is set to compete a £15m move to West Bromwich Albion, whilst Fulham are expected to pay around £4m for defender Kongolo, with an extra £3m possible in add-ons.

Since Corberan joined the Championship club in the summer he has worked on the basis that the pair were likely to leave, and says the Terriers' recruitment department have always had their eyes on possible options if and when the happened. The deals have taken so long because of Huddersfield's determination not to sell themselves short, but it means time is running out to bring in further new faces.

“Both players are close to agreeing deals,” confirmed Corberan at Thursday afternoon's press conference. “It's not complete but both players are close to leaving.

“The situation hasn't changed since I arrived because we haven't played those players. Kongolo was injured (he broke his foot making his debut on loan at Fulham in January) and the club was focused on trying to make this deal. With Karlan both parties were thinking about what was best for both parties. The player had the option to try to progress his career and the club understood the situation. As a coach, when I joined the club I received this information.

“We worked with Karlan Grant to continue his improvement as a player by working on his physical condition to help his career but not involving him in the squad. That's why he hasn't been involved in any of the official games we've played up to now.”

Sheffield United also enquired about Kongolo as a potential signing once left-sided central defender Jack O'Connell was ruled out for six months with knee surgery, but their interest appeared to cool over concerns about his rehabilitation from the broken foot – another reason for the Cottagers to proceed with caution.

As coach, Corberan does not play a major role in transfers but centre-forward Danny Ward, right-back Pipa, centre-back Naby Sarr and central midfielder Carel Eiting have all been signed on his watch, whilst a host of loan players have been recalled.

With Ward's ongoing injury problems reducing his attacking options, Corberan has not ruled out further additions.

“We are always thinking about the (transfer) market until the market is closed,” he insisted. “We are going to be focused on any possibility that could appear, that was the case two days ago and two weeks ago. For us the situation hasn't changed because I've had it in mind that these deals were close to being done so we needed to be focused on the market.

“As a coach you need to be focused on trying to get the best performances from the players you have. We're trying to develop them as players and at the same time trying to make the strongest team we can with the players we have available to work with.”

Ward is yet to make his second league debut for the club having picked up a hamstring injury in the opening match of the season, a League Cup tie. It is not healing as quickly as Huddersfield hoped.

“Danny Ward's recovery is going a little bit slower than we were thinking,” the coach revealed. “I don't think we will have him for the next two weeks but I know the medical staff are working very closely with him to accelerate this process because he has to be an important player for us.”

Lewis O'Brien, Christopher Schindler and Alex Pritchard are in contention to play at Swansea City on Saturday having trained over the international break.

Young goalkeeper Ryan Schofield returned to training with the group this week, and Rarmani Edmonds-Green is to undergo a scan this week to decide if he is ready to do the same. Tommy Elphick remains a long-term absentee with medial and cruciate knee ligament damage.

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