Carlisle United target two forwards before transfer deadline

Manager Paul Simpson said the pair of would-be signings are due to have medicals this afternoon.

And Simpson hopes the double signing will be sealed well before the 11pm deadline.

There is also the possibility of outgoing movement from Brunton Park with two or three players likely to depart on loan deals.

Simpson gave an update on the latest deadline-day business at his press conference this afternoon.

“We’re waiting for the players to come in so we can get them medicalled,” said Simpson.

“There are things going on.

“There's also a bit of rumblings about some players leaving, which I think is also important, as I've already talked over the last week or two about having a bit of a top heavy squad.”

Simpson said United were lining up one permanent arrival and one loan signing with the two forwards he was looking to sign. He said both players were keen to join the Blues.

Carlisle’s boss has previously said he wants a frontman with “physical” strengths and he confirmed that remained the case.

He will not, though, be moving for a midfielder to replace Portsmouth-bound Owen Moxon before 11pm.

On the “physical” striker he is seeking, Simpson said: “With Joe Garner leaving, we need somebody of that ilk – and I suppose Ryan Edmondson too.

“The difficulty is there's been quite a few players who we've inquired about who are not fully fit with different little niggly injuries, and then other clubs have taken the chance and taken them when they're not fully fit. And we've missed out.

“So it's been really, really difficult trying to get players in, but we'll keep going and keep working.”

On the potential for players to leave the Blues today, Simpson added: “Possibly two or three will go out. I think they'll all be loans. I don't think there's anything permanent going to happen.

“But again, we're just going to have to wait and see. There have been discussions going on but nothing is confirmed as yet.”

Asked if Moxon's move to Pompey meant he could add another player in that position, Simpson said that was unlikely today.

"We've got Taylor Charters, we've got Jordan Gibson who can play in midfield, we've still got Dylan McGeouch. Jayden Harris has come back. So we've got players here," he said.

"And again, it's really difficult. We've made enquiries to be bringing players in on permanent deals in that midfield area. But we weren't able to do it. So it may just have to be something that we have to go with what we've got and address it again in the summer."

Simpson was also asked if the "nominal" fee he said the Blues have recouped for Moxon would help with United's recruitment before the deadline.

He said: "I'll be honest with you, in this window, the finances are not the issue.

"They have been in the past. But these issues are not to do with with salaries or budget or anything like that.

"We're in a really strong position financially. It's probably the first time as a Carlisle United manager that I'm sat here saying that we have got the budget to spend, we can't get the players - normally we have the players but we don't have the budget, but it's been turned round on this one.

"So if things don't happen, it's certainly not because of the backing that we're getting from the owners."

Simpson added that this window has been the toughest he has known as a manager and added: “I always thought that I wouldn't get involved in a bun fight going up to the deadline. But it looks like we are going to be involved in [one].”