Paul Simpson says he wants one more signing at Carlisle United before the transfer window closes.
The Blues boss is looking to make another midfield addition – on a permanent basis.
Simpson made AFC Bournemouth’s attacking midfielder Dominic Sadi his tenth summer addition this week, with the new boy set to be in the squad to face MK Dons on Saturday.
United’s recruitment this window is almost complete but another attacking midfield option is still being sought – with a couple of key targets in Carlisle’s sights.
“We're still looking in that midfield area, midfield and forward-thinking players, like midfielders who can get forward and get goals,” Simpson told the News & Star.
“Because I think the more goals you can have in the team the bigger chance you've got of being successful, and you don't need to be a genius to work that out.
“So if we can get players in who are going to add that to us, whether it's the creativity to assist or the knack and the know-how to be able to go and score goals, that's what we want.”
On potential targets for United’s 11th summer addition, the manager said: “I've got two at this moment and hopefully one of them will drop.
“They're actually permanents, these ones at the moment. We've got loads of room for either [permanents or loans] to be honest with you, so we'll just wait and see.”
Simpson wants one more signing after this week's loan arrival of Dominic Sadi (Image: Carlisle United)
Simpson has also raised the prospect of a player leaving Brunton Park before next Friday’s deadline although United have not received any approaches for such a player at this stage.
“There’s a possibility that we may need one to go – not for the finances, just because it would work out better for them to go, so we're going to just wait and see what happens over the next week on that one,” he said.
“We're at that point where players are looking at the starting selections and thinking, ‘Well it's maybe better for me to go,’ so if something happens that's right then we'll look at doing that before next week.”
Simpson could also loan out some of his young players but remains unwilling to do that right now given the injuries to senior players.
The likes of Jake Allan and Sam Hetherington remain candidates for loans, with Workington Reds remaining a likely destination, but both have been on the first-team bench in the early weeks of the season.
On the possibility of loans for some of United’s teenagers, Simpson said: “That’s something we'll look at.
“Because of the injuries that we've had, I'm not prepared to leave ourselves short.
“I don't think it's right to go with five subs – I think it's the wrong thing to do. I also don't want to bring young players onto it and give them false hope if I don't think they can affect the game.
“So over recent weeks, the players who we've talked about going [on loan] are people like Jake Allan, Sam Hetherington, Aran Fitzpatrick, maybe Anton Dudik.
“Anton's just getting himself back to full fitness now with training, Fitzy has been injured, Freddie [O’Donoghue]'s too young to go out, we wouldn't let Freddie go out yet anyway.
“But with Jake and Sam, we've spoken to Workington [and said] that if they are going to go out, we'll speak to them about it.
“But I'm not in a position where I can let them go yet. I think it's great experience for them to be involved, travelling with the group – whether they're 19th man or on the bench, I think it's good experience for them.”
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