Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has admitted that he has found it difficult to recruit players since the club's promotion to the Premier League.
The Cherries are preparing for their first ever season in the English top flight after winning the Championship title last term.
Howe has admitted that while Bournemouth need reinforcements if they are to be competitive, they must also be astute in the transfer market this summer.
"We are certainly looking at more players. We are very aware we are entering a new league and a completely different challenge awaits us," he told the Bournemouth Echo. "We are going to be examined and tested more than we have ever been so would like to add more quality to the squad in certain positions to ensure added competition for places. We will wait and see whether we are able to do so.
"Although we have signed four players, we have found it a difficult market so far because the landscape has changed for us. But we are hopeful we can add the players we want before the season starts.
"Like a lot of Premier League clubs, we are finding the figures and sums being bandied about for players involve big numbers. As a result, we have to try to be very clever in our recruitment while continuing to protect the long-term interests of the football club."
Bournemouth have already signed goalkeepers Artur Boruc and Adam Federici, along with frontmen Joshua King and Christian Atsu.
Steven Toplis
