Ian Evatt says Bolton Wanderers still want to strengthen this summer transfer window and are still looking but nothing is imminent just yet.
Wanderers have made three signings so far this summer. The only permanent one has been defender Jack Iredale on a three-year deal after he left Cambridge United.
Two season-long loans have also been confirmed. Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford has returned for a second spell with the club, while highly rated right-back Conor Bradley has joined from Liverpool.
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Evatt makes no secret that Wanderers would like to add further to the squad this summer. Up to two more signings are believed to be sought.
But the Bolton boss is prepared to continue to be patient with no futher incomings imminent right now. However, he believes that situation can change quickly in transfer windows potentially, but is happy with where the squad is right now in what is his third pre-season as Wanderers manager.
He said: “We want to strengthen a little bit. I’m not going to hide that fact, but at the moment there’s nothing happening. We’re just going to be patient and see what materialises over the course of pre-season.
"Things change by the hour in the transfer window, so at the moment there’s nothing to update, but I’m not saying that couldn’t change pretty quickly. Onwards and upwards, we’re still looking around but happy with where we’re at.
“I think the most important thing is we are moving forwards, there is improvement there. We obviously all want to improve as fast as we possibly can, but to do it sustainably and to sustain moving forwards, it takes time.
"We’ve had the time and I’ve been fortunate enough to have the time. This is really the first time I’ve had a settled squad ready for the start of pre-season.
"A squad that I’ve worked with for a period already that understand our idea. The club is progressing fast and I’m really proud to be manager.
"That’s why I said to you in Portugal that there was never a doubt in mind about ever leaving this football club and there certainly won’t be because there’s a fantastic project here. I’m fully invested, the board are fully invested, the players we’ve got here are fully invested and we’re just loving our journey.”
An indication of the squad strength Evatt has been able to build at Wanderers was the strength of the completely different sides he was able to put out for each half in the 9-0 win over Longridge Town earlier this week. It was two teams that also did not have the likes of MJ Williams, Josh Sheehan and Lloyd Isgrove in them.
He feels an aspect to improve this pre-season has been making the players more robust in an attempt to avoid the injury troubles which plagued Wanderers at times last season. The Whites travel to Chorley today for their next pre-season test and Evatt is aiming for a further improvement from his side this afternoon in the 2pm kick-off.
He said: “Next to me on the bench second half was MJ Williams, Josh Sheehan and Lloyd Isgrove. When you add those three to that, it’s incredible. But as we saw at the start of last season, things can change quickly in football.
"The most important thing is that we get this content and volume into them so they become more robust and we keep them on the pitch. We had too many injuries last year, they’re no denying that and we’ve done a lot of work over the summer as to how we can start avoiding those injuries and that work’s taken place and you’ve seen the benefits of that in that first week of Portugal.
“The message is to improve really. That’s a good base but it is only a base and we’ve got lots of hard work to do. We understand that and we know that. For me it was just about seeing flickers of the fundamentals we’ve been putting into them and what we’re trying to do in and out of possession and our idea tactically."
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