Carlisle United boss Steven Pressley has admitted he is interested in Aston Villa's Callum O'Hare - and the Blues are "closing in" on other deals.

But the prospects of David Edgar joining United have receded.

Pressley said it was vital Carlisle bolster their promotion-chasing squad with signings ahead of next Thursday's deadline.

He is chasing additions in defence, midfield and attack and arrivals are expected at Brunton Park.

One player linked with United today is 20-year-old Villa attacking midfielder O'Hare.

Reports suggesting he was set to be at Port Vale to watch Carlisle this afternoon proved wide of the mark as O'Hare was on the bench for the Championship club.

Pressley later said O'Hare was someone he was "very interested in".

After United made it eight wins from nine with a 1-0 victory, the manager said: "I've seen him a number of times at Villa, because of my son's connections there [Pressley's son Aaron is on Villa's books].

"I've always been very impressed with him. He's an exciting player who can score goals and break from the midfield.

"He's an ideal replacement for the likes of Jack Sowerby and he's a player we're really interested in. Hopefully we can move on with that one."

Pressley added that he hoped for several new additions, saying: "It's so important we get the correct players in and we'll be working tirelessly to do that.

"We're certainly closing in on deals, that's what I must say. It's not that we're not trying to get deals over the line.

"We're trying desperately to get the right ones."

Ex-Newcastle and Canada defender Edgar, though, now seems set to go elsewhere.

The 31-year-old had been invited to train with the Cumbrians last week.

But Pressley told the News & Star: "Initially I had a couple of really positive conversations, he [Edgar] then came back and said his family - although he's got a flat himself in Newcastle - his family, when they are over, are based in Manchester, and he felt that Tranmere was a better option.

"He's gone in there to train, so we've moved on. We hope to conclude something else in the next couple of days."

United's most recent signing, Arthur Gnahoua, suffered an injury blow on his debut.

He came on at the break at Vale but then limped off on 71 minutes with what Pressley said appeared to be a hamstring injury.