David Artell fully expects the summer transfer window to ‘accelerate into action’ with a large number of players going out of contract at the end of this month. The Alex boss says he is pursuing possible targets and remains focussed on adding to the spine of his team.

His first business of the summer saw forward Offrande Zanzala arrive from Accrington Stanley on a potential two-year-deal at the beginning of the month and he is keen to add more.

Artell told the club’s official website: “I fully expect that the market will get busier over the next two to three weeks. I am sure there will be acceleration there with players going out of contract at the end of this month.

“Does that mean there will result in a signing for us? I am not sure at this stage but we are looking. We are looking every day. We have been going over footage and there are talks every day about possible names.

The boss added: “That is what we have to do. Our budget is not going to be as high as most League One clubs, if not all of them and that is fine. We know that and that just means we have to work harder and smarter to find those gems and that is what we are prepared to do.”