Paul Simpson is hoping to get another new signing over the line in time for Carlisle United’s next game.

Simpson said the Blues are working on a loan target and would like the player in his squad for tomorrow’s game at Grimsby Town.

United’s boss said he had been given the green light from directors to further strengthen his squad.

He is keen to bolster the left defensive side of his squad and told the News & Star he has a top target in mind.

“We’ve got one who we’ve highlighted, who we’ve had watched,” Simpson said.

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“We’ve had early discussions with the club about what it will cost us and whether we can actually afford it. At the moment we’re hoping we can.”

Simpson said work was done on the potential deal last week and the situation will now be revisited.

“We’ve done the background work on it and I then leave Greg [Abbott, head of recruitment] then to find out from the club what it’s going to cost us,” he said.

“Then it comes back to me and we make a decision from there.

“Once we get to Friday morning Greg knows my only focus is on this game. Unless we could have got a player in by 12pm on Friday, which wasn’t going to happen, I don’t want to know about that. My only focus is on the 18 players we had available [for the Swindon game].

“I will now pick up with Greg and we’ll find out where we’re at with it.

“He’s also been at the Grimsby game [on Saturday] so I’ll find out exactly what Grimsby are all about, and then we’ll see if we can do something for Tuesday.”

Simpson confirmed the potential signing would be a loan deal not a permanent addition.

But he stressed that club bosses had given him the financial leeway to bring in another player.

“I had a conversation on Friday afternoon with the directors and with Nigel [Clibbens, chief executive], and there is something available,” he said.

“They’re prepared to work to keep backing us so there is room to bring another player in. That’s what we’ve got to try to do now.

“They’re making funds available out of their own pocket, and that will help us to strengthen the squad.

“If we can do something before Tuesday night we might try, and see where we go with it.”