MARK Ashton expects Oxford United to make at least one, maybe two more new signings.

And the U’s chief executive then anticipates the problems to begin for head coach Michael Appleton – but ones he feels are nice to have.

United have made four signings this summer, with Sam Slocombe’s arrival adding to the deals already done to bring Kemar Roofe, Liam Sercombe and Ryan Taylor to the club.

Ashton is confident there will be more and says United are in talks to bring in players already under contract elsewhere.

“I would be surprised if we didn’t do another one, maybe two,” he said.

“We are beavering away behind the scenes, but those players are contracted to other clubs. If they became available and the deal is right, we might do those.”

He added: “There are still players out there in the free transfer market that we would consider, but there are others at clubs who are our priority.”

Ashton does not expect players to depart at present, but admits that situation could easily change as we approach the start of the season.

“At this moment, I would have to say we don’t anticipate players leaving because we have no offers in for any of them,” he said.

“There wouldn’t be a need to get players out, but if you look at the squad numbers, if we did manage to bring in a couple more faces, then there would obviously be a number not playing.

“I would then expect a couple of them to be banging on Michael’s door asking whether they could go out on loan or get games somewhere.

“The competitiveness and hunger of the squad is absolutely key for us.”

Ashton did not put a time scale on potential new faces arriving, but believes they will be close to having completed their squad when pre-season training starts later this month.

“Ideally you would want all the players in for the day they report back, but it rarely happens like that,” he said.

“I think we will be close to it, but when everyone returns, the jigsaw moves again.

“You get clubs moving people on, bring ones in and often individuals you didn’t think would be available, suddenly are, so we have to monitor that situation and stay on top of it.”

He added: “I feel we have been on the front foot this summer.

“We identified players from January onwards and have made our move for them early.

“The squad has got some depth and quality to it and I think we are in a much better position than we were when we took over.

“We do not want to dip substantially into the loan market this season.”