Paul Simpson says Carlisle United may have to be patient and use the full transfer window to make all the signings they want this summer.

The Blues manager said it is unlikely he will strengthen in all the areas he wants before the big kick-off against Crawley Town in two weeks’ time.

Simpson still wants to bolster different areas of his squad but said nothing was imminent at the moment.

He added, though, that he would be wrong to be impatient with the situation.

“I don’t have a set number,” he said, when asked about further additions he’s like to make to the six new faces so far.

READ MORE: Carlisle United striker set to return against Bolton Wanderers but goalkeeper suffers injury blow

“I think there’s three areas of the squad I would like to strengthen, if we could bring that in.

“I’m gonna be really honest, I don’t expect it before Crawley. I’ll be delighted if we can get one more in before Crawley.

“I have to keep reminding myself we’ve got until September 1 to do it.

“I’m trying not to make massive changes to it where it’s a full new group, because I think that can be a really difficult situation.

“I’m trying to take a medium and long-term view of it and think, let’s not try and do everything in one transfer window.

“That is a challenge, it’s a difficult thing to do, in terms of where we are budgeting-wise. We’ve just got to keep thrashing away for as long as we possibly can.”

Simpson, whilst eager to add more options in defence and midfield, said another of his priorities is to add extra pace to his options.

He said: “One thing I think we are lacking is pace in the team.

“We’ve obviously got Omari [Patrick], and Edmo [Ryan Edmondson] covers the ground well once he gets going.

“If we could add a bit more pace to the team that would be my ideal scenario. When somebody has a good forward in their club who has got pace, they tend to be reluctant to let them go out.

“It’s something we’ll just keep looking around for and wait to see what is available.”

In terms of possible defensive additions, Simpson said a return for Southampton loanee Dynel Simeu was not currently on the agenda.

He said his priority remained to try and bring in permanent signings.

“It hasn’t worked that way so far, with three loan signings, because it’s really difficult,” Simpson added.

“I am looking to try and make permanent signings.

“I’m not saying there will be no more loans, but the first thing I would like to do is bring in some more permanent signings so they can play for us and we can benefit in the long run if they do well for us.”

Simpson said some players who rejected United’s interest several weeks ago because they wanted to play higher had now come back to the club asking if a deal was still available.

“Sadly, they are still asking for wages that we can’t afford, so we won’t be taking it any further until they realise they aren’t going to get the sort of money they’re asking for from this football club,” he said.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what comes.”