Charlton manager Dean Holden anticipates there will be more comings and goings at The Valley before the transfer window shuts.
The Addicks are under new ownership going into the League One opener against Leyton Orient in seven days time and signed off their pre-season campaign today with a 3-2 home defeat to Aberdeen.
Aberdeen raced into a 3-0 lead but the Addicks fought back well against their Scottish top flight opponents thanks to second half goals from Corey Blackett-Taylor and substitute Daniel Kanu.
Holden has been busy in the market this summer having made half a dozen signings already including the likes of Alfie May, Terry Taylor and Panutche Camara, who all started today against the Dons.
And the boss is confident there will be more fresh faces entering the building in the coming weeks.
Holden said: “We’ve got targets in mind that we have had lined up for a while.
“Every player we’ve brought in has been a top target in that position.
“I said the other night maybe every manager says that, but it is certainly the truth in terms of our recruitment. I’ve been really pleased.
“We could have jumped a bit early on one or two of them.
“At times we thought we had the players signed and then other things happened, not with us but with other clubs getting involved.
“The players were all desperate to come but you’ve sometimes got to be a bit patient and wait.”
Holden added: “We could have jumped early and maybe even gone and got our second target but we didn’t, which I’m really pleased with, and we got the right ones in.
“We’ve still got targets lined up. We still need to improve the team and with the new ownership coming in now there is a lot more clarity in terms of how quickly we can act once we get the right answer from the parent club.
“I always get told never to put a time limit on anything because you can have your fingers burnt, so I won’t tell you how many players we are looking to bring in and tell you how long it will take.
“But certainly by the end of the window, which is obviously a while away yet, we will bring more players in. We will be active anyway.”
Holden also pointed out there will be departures as well as incomings before going on to explain he has been very happy with Charlton’s pre-season efforts so far.
“Equally the squad is getting to a point now where one or two will naturally move on,” the Valley chief said.
“But I’m pleased with where we are at at the moment. We’ve had a really good pre-season.
“If you look at us as whole from where we were six weeks ago there is a really good connection around the place, not just with the supporters but certainly within the players.
“The players are working their socks off, they really are.
“Some of them are playing really fatigued at the moment but that is what we need from them.
“They arguably weren’t fit enough at times last season and there is no secret to that. You’ve got to put the work in.
“You’ve got to get on the grass and work hard and you’ve got to work harder than you’ve done before.
“We’ve certainly done that so we will take stock this week and I think we are in a good place going into the season. I can’t wait for it.”
