Everton boss Roberto Martinez said he needs three more signings before the transfer window shuts on Sept. 1.
Martinez has brought in two senior players so far this summer, signing midfielder Tom Cleverley from Manchester United and winger Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona.
In addition, he has made teenage forward David Henen's loan move from Olympiakos permanent, and is looking to sign 19-year-old midfielder Tomas Andrade on loan from Argentinian side River Plate. Andrade, who has been training with Everton, would be likely to join Henen in Everton's Under-21 squad this season, though, while Martinez is looking for more experience.
After a youthful Toffees side lost a friendly 2-0 at Championship side Leeds last Saturday, the manager suggested that some of his young players needed to go out on loan before they would be ready to play in the Premier League.
And as his side prepare to begin their Premier League season at home to promoted Watford on Saturday, Martinez has acknowledged that his squad is incomplete.
He said: "We know exactly where we stand and what we need. What's clear is that we need three players to bring into the squad, which will allow us to be in the shape we want to be in facing the competition ahead.
"Overall, we're very, very pleased with the squad, but in order to be competitive over the next 10 months, we need three new signings.
"That's what we're going to work extremely hard on from now until the deadline."
Martinez remains interested in signing centre-back Jonny Evans from Manchester United, and would also like to add an attacking midfielder.
He is hopeful that the injury problems that have troubled his squad in preseason will start to ease up.
Striker Romelu Lukaku is the major concern, as he battles to shake off a hamstring injury picked up during a 2-0 friendly win at Dundee on July 28, while wingers Deulofeu and Aiden McGeady are struggling with similar problems, as is midfielder Muhamed Besic.
Centre-back John Stones and forward Kevin Mirallas are expected to recover from ankle knocks sustained during last Sunday's 2-1 defeat at home to Villarreal.
Midfielder Steven Pienaar is out with a hamstring injury, while long-serving right-back Tony Hibbert is recovering from a knee problem suffered in the Asia Trophy final against Arsenal in Singapore on July 18.
Martinez said: "Steven Pienaar's injury is one that makes us sad, because he worked so hard throughout the off-season. He looked really strong, and it was a shame for him to have that setback.
"Aiden McGeady has been carrying a hamstring problem for a long time now, and we hope we can get that right. I don't think he'll be unavailable for too long.
"Gerard Deulofeu has a chance of being available for this weekend. Darron Gibson has gone for a straightforward procedure with his adductor muscle, and should be back in the next 14-15 days.
"We're going to get players back very quickly. Mo Besic is already training at a very good level.
"I expect John Stones and Kevin Mirallas to be fully fit for the weekend.
"For Romelu Lukaku, the next 48 hours are going to be very important to see if he can be available for the weekend or not, but I expect he is not going to be too far away."