Paul Simpson is “confident” of making another new signing at Carlisle United in time for their next game.

The Blues manager is hoping to add several players to his squad and is continuing talks on a number of fronts.

Simpson wants at least one new face in the ranks in time for Saturday’s trip to Exeter City.

And he expressed confidence that that would happen, despite some frustrations with other targets.

“I’m hoping for at least one more for Exeter next weekend,” said Simpson, speaking to the News & Star after the 2-1 win over Port Vale.

“I’ve got confidence that one will come in.

“I was expecting two more as well but I’m not as confident that those will happen this week.

“But we’ll keep working, we’ll keep doing everything we can to try and get it over the line and hopefully that will be soon.”

Simpson did not give indications on the position of the would-be signings.

He also said United are having to wait for news on others despite previously feeling certain deals were close.

News and Star: Paul SimpsonPaul Simpson (Image: Ben Holmes)

“There’s one permanent and one loan [we are looking at] but I’ll wait and see what happens over the week,” Simpson added.

“I’ve been a bit frustrated, because we have agreed terms with a club, and a player, to come in on a permanent deal, and then [on Sunday] afternoon I got a call to say he’s been approached by another club and he wants to speak to them.

“I’ve got to just accept it, I can’t do anything about that, but that’s the way it goes.”

United will have striker Luke Armstrong available for the first time when they go to fellow strugglers Exeter for another key game in the survival battle.

It follows his move from Harrogate Town in a club record deal as United’s owners, the Piatak family, back Simpson with an increased January budget.

Simpson wants to bolster his squad in a number of positions and says United are ready to pay more transfer fees in order to boost their ranks for the League One safety struggle.

“There’s a budget that we work to,” Simpson added.

“If there’s a fee involved…let’s say for example, just for ease on numbers, if it’s a £90,000 transfer fee and it’s a three-year contract, that works out as £30,000 each year on top of their wages.

“As long as we come inside the budget in each year, we’ll pay fees if we have to – so long as we believe we’re getting the best value for the money.”