Carlisle United are closing in on a new arrival, with director of football David Holdsworth hoping to get something done this week, according to the News and Star.

The Cumbrians have been rocked recently by the departure of Jamie Devitt, but they're now focused on bringing in a replacement as they look to improve on last year's late surge towards the top seven.

Former Mansfield manager Holdsworth confirmed they're in talks with a player currently at a Premier League club as their summer recruitment is ramped up a notch.

“We have got one secured already, and he will come through the door from what is now a Premier League club,” he said.

“We are hopeful that will be done, and there are one or two [others] we’ve got first choice on.  We’d like them to be season-long loans, so they are not jumping ship or going back [in the middle of the season]."

He's hopeful one of those deals will be completed this week, giving supporters something to feel positive about as the fixtures for the new season are announced.

“We are 99 per cent sure that we have done a deal that is to be concluded on Wednesday evening, and the player will hopefully be announced on Thursday.”

Carlisle finished the season in 11th with 68 points, just three outside the top seven. One player that did help the cause was Callum O'Hare, signed on loan from Aston Villa in January. He bagged three goals in 16 matches and certainly added value as the season wore on.

The Verdict

They should be big hitters in that division. Brunton Park is a grand old ground and there is little competition around them for supporters. They're a one-club county and that should help them attract good gates.

The football has to be right though, as does the recruitment and that's where they're needing to kick on. A new face or two might add a few hundred on season ticket sales and that's going to be a positive start for a promotion season.