Lee Bullen has revealed that Sheffield Wednesday have continued to work ‘in a positive manner’ towards potential new signings – despite being without a full-time manager.
Bullen was handed the reins for the third time in two years after Steve Bruce quit to join Newcastle United a fortnight ago.
There are few clues yet as to who the new boss may be – the Scot or otherwise – or when he might be appointed.
And with 10 days left of the summer transfer window after Monday, the Owls still hope to add to the arrivals of Moses Odubajo, Kadeem Harris and Julian Börner.
“We would love to make one or two additions,” Bullen told BBC Radio Sheffield after Wednesday were held to a 2-2 draw by Espanyol on Sunday. “But we know where we are with the financial side of things… well, we think we know where we are. I believe we’re out of the soft embargo so that’s a bonus.
“Even without a full-time manager being announced, we are working in a positive manner towards where we want to go and doing what’s right by the football club.”
Bullen would ideally like to strengthen in three positions, although an unexpected injury lay-off has opened up a vacancy in one other department.
“Joe Wildsmith took a bad injury, he’s going to be out for a few months (potentially five or six),” he added. “So we’ve got to make sure that we’re not short in that area (goalkeeper). That’s one that we weren’t expecting to have to look at.
“But there’s two or three other areas that I think we would like to bring in a little bit more strength in depth and quality in legs as well.
“I don’t think we need another striker. I think we have enough of them. That’s probably the biggest dilemma for any coach that does come in, trying to keep all six of them happy.
“Personally – again, I’m not putting words in (the mouths of) the chairman or any future coach, whoever that may be – I feel we need cover at centre-back, we need another midfielder and we need another winger.
“That’s my own personal opinion. I think that would be ideal. I think that would give the squad a really good balance.”
And according to Bullen, some Sheffield Wednesday players – including those the Owls might not want to sell – could move on before next Thursday.
That is despite the compensation due from Newcastle and the apparent lifting of their transfer embargo.
But the former Wednesday captain added: “Ultimately you have to get offers.
“We’ll deal with that when it comes.”
CORRECTION: SheffieldWednesday.News reported earlier that Ash Baker had been omitted from the Owls’ squad number list for 2019/20. But the right-back’s name has now been added.