FULHAM manager Marco Silva believes he needs to bring in at least a handful of players with only a week to go before the transfer window shuts.
The Cottagers endured a disruptive pre-season largely down to the uncertainty over whether Aleksander Mitrovic would stay or go.
That particular issue was finally resolved last weekend when the Serbian striker finally secured his desired move to Saudi Arabia.
Silva was less than impressed by how Mitrovic’s protracted departure was handled, but pointed out it isn’t just the attacking areas which need to be strengthened in the coming seven days.
He said: “From last April, the plan was clear.
“It’s no surprise what we need.
“We have just two full-backs in our squad — one right-back and one left-back. We need two more.
“We have to sign at least five players until the end of the market. We have to.”
Mitrovic still has to be replaced, although Silva has vowed he won’t be panicked into snapping up the wrong candidate with the deadline looming.
The boss said: “If we are going to sign a striker, it has to be the right one.
“It has to be someone who can come to have an impact in our squad.
“This is the main thing for me.
“I don’t want to sign players just to sign to be honest, even if you need numbers.
“We want players to come to help the players that we have already.”
Fulham travel to Arsenal tomorrow and will be rank outsiders at the title hopefuls following last weekend’s 3-0 home defeat to Brentford.
The Gunners ultimately missed out on the Premier League crown last time around but Silva feels they will be even better for the experience.
He said: “Of course, they weren’t the champions.
“But the way they fought to be champions, the way they played – everything that they did last season was impressive.
“And they were able to improve the squad with very good signings.
“I believe that it will be an even stronger Arsenal this season.”
