Martin O'Neill hopes Aston Villa will be able to add to their squad in the next few weeks.
A move for veteran Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel seems certain to bear fruit but an attempt to snatch David Bentley from under Tottenham's noses appears more problematic, while West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand and Manchester City's England Under-21 star Michael Johnson are also on O'Neill's radar.
"We are progressing and in the next few weeks I would think we should be able to add to our squad," said O'Neill.
"I don't know whether we will do that by the end of the week, in the next 10 days or the next three weeks but by the time the Premier League comes round it is essential to be much stronger than we are at the minute."
Meanwhile, Martin Laursen will offer old pal Thomas Helveg a handshake and nothing else as Villa look to plant one foot in Europe with an Intertoto Cup win over Odense on Saturday.
Villa tackle the Danes knowing victory in the two-legged encounter will see them book a place in next month's UEFA Cup qualifying round and, in all probability, a spot in the competition itself given the seeding system in operation.
For the former European Cup winners, still making their way under O'Neill, it would be a major lift.
But Laursen accepts beating Odense will not be a formality, particularly with Helveg in their starting line-up.
Now 37, Helveg is a former team-mate of Laursen from their days with AC Milan. And the Villa man is acutely aware of his quality, even if Helveg's legs are somewhat older than they once were.
"To still be playing at his age is a terrific achievement," Laursen told Villa's official website.
"But I played with him at AC Milan for two years and with Denmark for much longer than that and know he is the sort of player who can continue to an old age.
"He is so professional. He takes care of his body and is a terrific example to any young player.
"Thomas is a good friend and it will be very interesting to play against him. But we have to remember this is an important game. We want to play in the UEFA Cup and we have to be ready."
