Paul Simpson admits the transfer market has been tougher than ever at Carlisle United this summer.

The Blues boss has steadily added new faces to his squad in the build-up to 2023/24 and is on the brink of adding more in the form of loan signings.

But Simpson says Carlisle’s step up to League One has set the club real challenges when it comes to competing with rivals for players.

United have encountered a number of frustrations along the way but Simpson also stressed he is very pleased with the business the club has managed to do.

“It's been tough. It's been really tough,” he said.

“I think it's always tough at Carlisle United, if I’m going to be honest with you, but this season has been even tougher because we're looking to bring in a next level of player.

“The next level of player means a next level of finances, and although the board have been absolutely fantastic in in finding extra budget for us, it's been really difficult.”

Simpson, who has said two Premier League loan additions are close, referred to previous times when Carlisle have been gazumped for players at the last moment.

One such occasion came early in pre-season when the Blues had a player in the building poised to sign, only for a rival club to snatch him from under their noses.

Carlisle never named the player but Salford City’s Jason Lowe, who went on to join Port Vale, is widely believed to be the individual in question.

News and Star: Jason Lowe, right, was strongly believed to be the player who turned Carlisle down at the last minute in early pre-seasonJason Lowe, right, was strongly believed to be the player who turned Carlisle down at the last minute in early pre-season (Image: PA)

“There was the guy who came in and went away after having his medical. That was literally a case of somebody offering him…well, I don't even know, but quite a lot more money than we were offering him,” said Simpson.

“And you have to respect that. It's the lad’s family that he's got to look after, so that that was lost.

“And the numbers that they're talking are scary. They're frightening.

“Last season, there were clubs who were at about £12m budget. There was a group of them around £6m to £9m, and there was a smaller group anywhere between £1.9m and £2.5m.

“It really is tough when you're trying to compete with teams. We're all looking at the same level of players, but if they're offering double X and we can only offer X and sometimes it's treble X they're offering…we can't compete, but we have to just accept that there's not a lot we can do.”

Simpson, who brought in ex-Preston North End and Coventry City striker Sean Maguire on Saturday, said Carlisle have to make their case to targets in other ways.

He added: “We have to sort of appeal to the players that this is the right place to come and they're going to get match minutes.

“And thankfully, I'm really pleased with what we have got. I'm delighted with the signings that we've got.

“We've just got to keep banging away and keep trying to do the things and hopefully we can keep improving.”