Boss Paul Jewell has revealed that Town had two bids turned down over the weekend as he looks to add three more players to his squad. The Blues manager says he’s undecided whether he’ll make further moves for the unnamed duo.
Jewell said: "We still want to bring in three players. It’s proving frustrating but I’m not kidded about where we need to strengthen.
"I think we’re three players short of me being happy with the squad. It’s having the patience to make sure that those we bring in are the right ones.
"We’ve had a couple of bids rejected over the weekend, whether we go back in for them remains to be seen, but we’re working exceptionally hard to improve the squad.”
Recently the Blues have been linked with Celtic centre-half Kelvin Wilson, while Huddersfield skipper Peter Clarke, also a central defender, was reported to be interesting Town yesterday and is again mentioned in one of today's tabloids but appears a less likely target.
Derby striker Steve Davies has been a Blues target throughout the summer but Jewell wouldn’t be drawn on whether the 24-year-old he signed from Tranmere when he was at Pride Park was still on his radar: "There are lots of players on my radar. We could be here all night speaking about players on my radar, players that we’ve asked about, players that are not available, players that may become available.
"This transfer window goes to August 31st and people try and play games of poker with their players, just as we would, so it’s a bit frustrating.”
After the defeat at Southend, the Blues boss said he was confident of adding to his squad by the time Blackburn visit Portman Road on the opening day of the Championship season and he remains convinced he needs more players, despite the improved subsequent performances: "I was asked this question last week and I said I was 100% certain.
"I’m 100% certain we do need them. There’s been a vast improvement in the last two games but as a group of players we want competition for places all over the pitch.
"I know, and I think everyone knows, that we need to improve our squad. The lads who have started the last two games have done exceptionally well but I think we’re three players short.
"I think you can see that when we take our main players out we lack a little bit of depth. We’ve got an honest bunch of players, a young bunch of players.
"The midfield that started tonight was exceptionally young. If you take Carlos out of the starting XI in the last two games, there’s a 28-year-old, two 26s and everyone else is 24 or under. It bodes well for the future, and that’s what we want to do - we want to bring young players to the club as well as add that little bit of experience in key areas which is vital.”
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