Town boss Paul Lambert says he’s identified three potential permanent signings he wants to add to his squad but admits that movement on bringing players in “probably don’t go as quick” as he would like.
Lambert currently has two centre-halves on trial, former Lincoln man James Wilson and ex-Walsall defender Jon Guthrie, both of whom were involved in today’s training session on the Portman Road pitch.
"The two of them have done well, James has been here a bit longer,” Lambert said when asked about the duo.
"We need to sign a centre-half. Whether that’s one of the lads here or whatever, we need to look at that area. As I’ve said before, we still need a bit of strength in some areas.”
Reflecting further on how many players he needs to bring in, he added: "I would reckon about three at least to come in and we’ve identified lads, so it’s over to [owner] Marcus [Evans] and [general manager of football operations] Lee [O’Neill] to try and get them in.”
Might those additions be loans? "No, the three lads that I’ve identified wouldn’t be loans, it’s over to the club now.”
Having said he would like his signings made early in the summer, is he now becoming frustrated? "Things annoy me, yes, but that’s part and parcel of football.
"As I’ve said before, it’s a brilliant club with a terrific fanbase behind it. Things probably don’t go as quick as I want to them to.”
Asked whether that’s something he’s found at Town or at clubs in generally, Lambert paused before picking his words carefully.
"They don’t exactly move massively quick, you know? But as I said before it’s a brilliant club, great support behind it,” he continued.
"You’ve even seen today, the club is starting to get a generation of young fans into the club.
"The football club needs the town without a doubt and the town needs the club. I think the place on that side of it has gone really, really well, season tickets sales [approaching the 12,000 mark] have gone incredibly well.
"Everything structure-wise is starting to get a base. The Community Trust will start to get going. But ultimately the team is really, really important for everybody to bounce off each other. As I said, we’ve identified guys, whether they come I don’t know.”
Lambert says he’s hopeful of adding to his squad prior to the season opener at Burton a week on Saturday.
"I would hope so, but if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen, but we need a wee bit of strength,” he added.
Earlier in the week the Blues were linked with a loan move for Birmingham right-back Josh Cogley, a report which we understand to be wide of the mark.
"We’ve had loads of people thrown at us, not just right-backs, there have been loads of guys thrown at us,” Lambert said when asked about the 23-year-old.
"You just see who you think is the best, but there’s loads of players, ones that I’ve identified that I think maybe could come in and help us.
"It’s over to Marcus and Lee to go and [get the deals sorted]. I’m involved a little bit obviously, who I think can come and help us. The rest of the stuff, it’s over to the owner.”
Lambert also confirmed that in addition to any signings he makes before the season starts Janoi Donacien could come into his thoughts for a centre-back role against Burton with skipper Luke Chambers suspended and Toto Nsiala injured.
"Yes, he was a centre-back at Villa for us, he’s done well at right-back,” he continued. "I’ll see between now and next Saturday what we’ll try and do.”