Kieran McKenna expects movement in both directions before the transfer window closes on Monday 1st September.

So far the Blues have added veteran keeper David Button, midfielder Azor Matusiwa and loanee central defender Cedric Kipre.

However, the squad has lost the likes of Liam Delap, Massimo Luongo, Axel Tuanzebe and Cameron Burgess, while skipper Sam Morsy is close to completing a free move to Kuwait SC and Omari Hutchinson looks likely to be on his way with Brentford having made a number of offers this week.

“There’s definitely still work to do, there’s no doubt about that,” McKenna said. “I think it’s natural when you have promotion and relegation seasons that there’s more turnover than you would like.

“And sometimes things can be in your control and sometimes out of your control. Sometimes players want to move on for different reasons.

“I think there’s a fair bit left in the summer. I think our priority is to try and keep as many of our best players as we can.

“Beyond that, different players might have their desires or different opportunities that arise for them and we want to have as strong a squad as possible.

“There’s still plenty of work to be done in the summer, to be honest. I still think there will be movement in both directions for different reasons and, of course, we want to get the group together and solidified as soon as possible and that has to be the goal over the next few weeks.”

Asked whether any further additions are close, he added: “How close is close? To be honest, no, as far as I know. My focus has been here with the group.

“But in terms of this weekend, if that means close or someone being in the building on Monday morning, not that I know of.

“We want to get players in as quickly as possible, we want to get different situations settled and push on with the group.

“But it’s natural there’s a bit more of that when you have a relegation season, like there is with a promotion season.

“It’s just something that we need to stay strong through as a club and try and come out the other side with a really strong group.”

Ideally, McKenna would like those additions in as soon as possible so they can take part in as much of pre-season as possible.

Last season that wasn’t the case with plenty of the squad taking part in a Town pre-season for the first time having signed late a year ago.

“We have a good chance now to work with them, the likes of Sammie Szmodics, Jack Clarke, people like that, it’s the first time they’ve been away. Jacob Greaves, he made the tour but didn’t do a full pre-season last year,” the Town boss continued.

“Dara [O’Shea], Conor [Townsend], lots of them. We made signings late last year, I think we know that and that was part of the challenge.

“So those boys will be stronger for everything that they went through last year, they’ll be stronger for doing a full pre-season this year.

“Players coming in we’d like to be done as soon as possible, but it always has to be the right thing and the right conditions for the club, so that always has to take priority over trying to do something that will make the stronger this week. It always needs to be a little bit more foresighted than that.”

Photo: ITFC

muccletonjoe added 21:44 - Jul 19 A bit cryptic to say the least
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trevski_s added 22:03 - Jul 19 Always love how open Mckenna and the rest are about these sort of subjects. They acknowledge that there are still some transfers to go and just because we don't hear anything for a bit (besides links and rumours) doesn't mean that they ain't working hard to try get someone. We shouldn't be signing someone just to make up the numbers and they probably have been working on a couple of deals its just the details haven't quite been ironed out. I have faith that the correct signings will come in when the deals are done and happy to wait until the club announces it In my eyes there isn't much left to do as we came down with a very strong squad its now just a matter of finding those final couple that are ready to take the step up to the Premier League when we are back there again. I feel like we just now need: 1 CM (2 at a push) 2 ST Even if Hutchinson does leave we have plenty of good cover in that position I would like to see Baggott and Humphreys get a chance this season and maybe even some of the U21s like Boniface and Buabo Don't forget we only have a limit of 25 players (discluding any U21s) currently at 26 with the following: GK - Palmer, Walton, Button (Loan out Slicker, sell Muric) RB - H Clarke, Johnson (O Shea, Woolfy and Kipre can also play here if needed) CB - O Shea, Woolfy, Greaves, Kipre, Baggott LB - Davis, Townsend (Greaves, Johnson and Kipre can also here if needed) CM - Matusiwa, Taylor, Humphreys, NEW CM RW - Burns, Ogbene, Jaden (assuming Hutchinson leaves) AM - Chappers, Szmods, Broady LW - J Clarke, Jaden, Broady ST - Hirst, NEW ST 1, NEW ST 2 (sell Al Hamadi)

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ITFC_1994 added 22:44 - Jul 19 Open and honest as always from KM. Lots of people panicking but in reality all we need is a striker and a central midfielder (possibly two of each but not essential imo, with AAH and Cameron Humphreys ok as 3rd choices if needs be).... if Omari does leave then that possibly doubles our budget for each.... no need to rush, more important we get the right players. Seeing the two lineups today, our squad is absolutely stacked. The starting back four is easily the best in the league and I can't really ever remember a stronger one, with as much potential, in this league full stop.... Can't wait for the season to start! Coyb

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johnwarksshorts added 08:18 - Jul 20 Can't wait to get going.
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Linkboy13 added 09:00 - Jul 20 Anyone who has seen the u21s will know that the standard is very poor and they often get beaten by our local teams so the likelihood of any of them breaking into the first team is not good they will probably go out on loan. Humphreys has a good chance of making the squad this season after impressing at Wycombe and will be assessed in pre season but Baggott had a injury hit season and has yet to really complete a season in league one and will probably go out on loan again. We all would like to see young players breaking into the first team but only if they are good enough but at the moment we haven't got any that are really out standing that's the reality.

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Bazza8564 added 09:36 - Jul 20 Pretty sure we will accept a deal for Omari. Looking at the (excellent) performance yesterday it's clear we will strengthen midfield. Hackney is now being talked about in the NE in terms of likely to be coming here. As for a striker, well im 100% convinced Guiu will come on loan, no way MA let's Liam go to Chelsea for the CWC without something in return, and all the talk all summer has been avoiding the subject of another striker. On the leavers, well I have heard repeated whispers about Broady leaving for ages, but yesterday he showed just what he can do, so I hope personally he stays. With the squad now home and Brentford looking close to selling Mbueno, I think this week could be a busy one

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blues1 added 10:04 - Jul 20 Bazza8564. Well Guiu has already rejected a move to the championship so thst ones not happening. Like to see Hackney. Here. And there's been plenty of talk about another striker. So not sure wht you think there hasn't been
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Edmundo added 10:13 - Jul 20 Comparing the squad now to TWO years ago (when came up and finished second, this is a stronger but less cohesive group: the emphasis has to be on creating a strong group/unit of players rather than just adding bodies, which KM articulated well.
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