The Pompey manager has already missed out on Danny Pugh and Michael Tonge who have joined Preston whilst Andy Reid, now on loan at Sheffield United, was also a target.
Ideally, Cotterill says he wants a player who is adaptable and can play in more than one position to compensate for the small size of his squad, but there aren't many available players that spring to mind.
A player who might fit the bill and one who has been rumoured to be joining Pompey tomorrow is Arsenal reserve player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. The 19-year-old can play as a winger or a striker and has an exceptional goalscoring record at reserve level.
He has had loan spells at Blackpool and Doncaster in two previous years but did make a first team appearance for Arsenal against Chelsea earlier in the season, coming on as an 81st minute substitute.
Arsene Wenger has been singing his praises and Gooners say that he is a brilliant talent who would benefit from regular first-team football. Perhaps Fratton Park is the place to do it.
There is also a rumour that Swindon forward Charlie Austin could be joining the club with a view to Matt Ritchie going the other way. That's probably nonsense but you never know with this club, do you?