Paul Simpson has confirmed that defence is a top priority area as he seeks further signings at Carlisle United.

The manager has so far brought in a goalkeeper, two midfielders and a striker.

And now the Cumbrians’ depleted rearguard will come in for attention.

Simpson – who says he is hoping to make more signings in the next week and a half – suggested the middle and right of Carlisle’s defence needed reinforcing.

He said: “It’s difficult because when I talk about positions in the group, I don’t want to be disrespectful to the players we’ve got in those positions.

“But what I would say is yes, centre-backs is an area where we are short.

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“We lost Rod McDonald last season, Kelvin Mellor left the club, and that defensive area – we are short.

“[Right-back] Joel Senior is doing really well with his rehab, but probably best-case scenario is October or maybe even November that he’s going to be back.

“The only other recognised right-sided defensive player is Jack Ellis, who did really well in the two games at the end of last season, but he’s only 18, and primarily a centre-back.

“I need to strengthen in those sort of areas to give us a fuller squad to be able to go into the first part of this season.”

Simpson said United had needed to be patient with certain targets but said some players were returning to the agenda as pre-season progresses.

“I’m looking for players who are sometimes from a higher level than what we are now, or if not, they’re on more money than we’re offering them at the moment,” he said, speaking at a fans’ forum at Brunton Park last night.

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“So we’re in a position where they want to hold on and see whether they can get bigger, better, as in clubs, levels, finances. We’ve got to be patient.

“It’s just started to turn over the last week, where everybody’s back in for pre-season training now, and players are looking and realising they haven’t got anywhere to train at the moment.

“I spoke to one today who’s playing at a higher level, and we talked to him and his agent about three or four weeks ago, and he said he was going to see whether he could get something at League One or Championship level.

“We have to be patient. I’m being patient. But we’re now getting to a point where they’re now ringing us asking is there still an interest in him.

“And there is, because we have to be that way – we can’t just spit our dummies out because they say no to start with.

“I’m hoping within the next ten days there’s going to be signings coming in. I can’t guarantee it, but we are desperately trying to get players in. I recognise there are areas in our squad that need strengthening.”

Simpson, at the forum hosted by United’s supporters’ groups (CUSG), was also asked about a potential return for former Southampton loan defender Dynel Simeu.

The United boss did not rule out the possibility but a deal does not currently appear on the table.

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"We've had discussions about it,” he said.

“Part of me wants to try and have our own players as much as we can.

“There will be loan signings, [but] the view we had from Southampton when the discussions [took place] was they felt he would go to a higher level than League Two.

“We're just going to have to wait and see. I'm not saying no to anybody at the moment. I just want to get players who fit into the profile of what I want our players to look like. Let's wait and see down the line."