Coleman playing for high stakes in transfer window

Chris Coleman believes that the January transfer window could be make-or-break time for him as a manager.

He has guided Fulham to fourth in the Premiership and raised the expectations of supporters and chairman Mohamed Fayed.

Early-season aims of simply staying up have been forgotten and Coleman's success - including four points from trips to Old Trafford and Highbury - has brought the burden of maintaining the standards he has set.

The Fulham manager, whose team play Bolton at Loftus Road tomorrow, only has a small squad and will be given money to bring in up to three players next month. If he is successful in the transfer market, his aim will be to stay near the top of the group forming below Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Coleman is negotiating to buy on-loan defender Moritz Volz from Arsenal, has been trailing Monaco's Croatia striker Dado Prso for some time, and needs cover in left midfield. But having Fayed's cheque book at his disposal could cause problems if he gets his transfers wrong.

Coleman said: "I will be judged on the players that I sign and the money I spend. If I bring the wrong players in and they don't do a job then I will be punished for that. But that does not put me off. I want to bring some fresh blood in to add to the quality we have already got.