Neil Warnock insists his Cardiff City squad rebuilding for the Premier League is still a work in progress.
The Bluebirds manager has signed both winger Josh Murphy from Norwich City and Preston defender Greg Cunningham in the past two weeks, but is clear there is more to be done.
Warnock has said he wants at least two further permanent signings as well as two loan deals, but the picture is further complicated by the fact that neither Aron Gunnarsson nor Junior Hoilett have agreed new deals offered to them and the future of last year’s loanee, Marko Grujic, has yet to be clarified.
But Warnock says: “What we have already got and what we are going to add to the squad, I think we are going to give teams a run for their money.
“The club are supporting me and I think we will get the signings I want. The budget is not large, compared to most of the others, but we will use it wisely.
Warnock has been in close contact with owner Vincent Tan over new signings and has revealed he required a face-to-face meeting with the Malaysian businessman in order to clinch the deal for Murphy.
The 23-year-old had been near the top of Warnock’s wanted list for a while but the £11m deal needed Warnock to catch a long haul flight.
He added: “I had to fly 14 hours to get that over the line. I had to go out to speak to Vincent [Tan].
“I wanted Josh. He has always been my number one. Him and Greg [Cunningham], because we have only got one left-footer.
“I think Greg Cunningham is a good as anything in the country at left-back.
“Josh Murphy is maturing every year. I have watched him for six years now and he excites me.
“I love people who get the ball and run at people. That is what I want him to do. We are going to need that, especially when we are under the cosh.