Carlisle United boss on January signing and striker rumour

The Blues manager says a deal has been “basically” agreed with a player who is set to join United early in the new year.

Simpson wants a number of reinforcements and is keen to get deals over the line as soon as the window opens.

Talks are ongoing on other targets with United wanting new bodies available for the earliest possible game in January, which would be the January 6 trip to Exeter City.

“One of them is basically agreed,” the manager said. “We’re just trying to work out the best way forward with that one.

“And then we’re in discussions over a few others as well.

“I really want them in to be available for Exeter.

“I can’t promise anything because it just doesn’t work that straightforwardly – I wish it did, but we’re doing everything we possibly can to try and get players in to hit the ground running in January for us.”

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Simpson said he anticipates making some “real improvements” to the squad in January with “a good few new faces” being lined up.

United have greater spending power after the Piataks’ takeover – and January will be a crucial month in the Blues’ bid to stay in League One this season.

Irish striker link

One player on the radar, Simpson confirmed, is the Bohemians striker Jonathan Afolabi. But the prospect of a deal for the 23-year-old remains unclear at this stage.

Reports in Ireland said United had bid for the ex-Celtic man. When this was put to Simpson by the News & Star he said: “He’s a player who we’ve watched, he’s a player who we certainly like, but whether we can afford him is a different matter.

Jonathan Afolabi (No9) is admired by Simpson but the Blues boss said United cannot currently afford him (Image: PA)

“We’re just going to wait and see what happens. We’ve certainly had discussions around him, and discussions are still ongoing, but there’s nothing that I can tell you about it because at this moment in time we can’t afford him.”

The Irish Independent claimed United had bid a six-figure sum for Afolabi, with Belgian side KV Kortrijk also keen on the striker having made a €200,000 offer.

Simpson stressed that United have a number of targets in a range of positions.

“We’ve probably got, I think, seven or eight in terms of that position [striker], six or seven in terms of midfielders, quite a number of goalkeepers, centre-backs…there’s lots of players we’re looking at, because we need to strengthen the group. It’s as simple as that. The league table tells you that.

“For the players now it’s a case of stand up and show you can do the business here, otherwise somebody else might take your place.”

Simpson, who has seen a bid to sign Scottish keeper Ross Stewart dashed by a registration issue, has turned down the chance to bring in an outfield free agent who has been training with the club.

United’s boss said the player was not fit enough for consideration right now.

'Real improvements' in January

On January planning, he added: “There are lots of things going on, lots of discussions, viewings of players.

“I do think we’re going to have some real improvements to the group coming in the January window. We’re hoping to bring a good few new faces into it.”

Simpson warned, though, that there is plenty of football facing United before January and the current squad must rise to the challenge.

He said: “December’s going to be a tough month with the number of games coming up, on the 9th, 16th, 23rd, 26th, 29th, and then January 1st.

“There are so many games before we can start bringing new faces in. We’ve got to do everything we possibly can in this next run of games to give ourselves a real fighting chance in January as well.”

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