Sam Allardyce says West Brom will make "maybe 250 enquiries" during January before signing "three or four good players".
Allardyce, who was appointed as manager on 16 December, said he wanted signings "who can go straight into the first team - or at least not take very long before they can because we need that boost".
The impending exit of playmaker Filip Krovinovic, a loan signing from Benfica that former boss Slaven Bilic pushed through, will create some space on the West Brom wage bill.
But with no additional income from the club, Allardyce will have to wheel and deal in the market, which he says he is "very adept in".