"That’s in an ideal world, but we are going to try our best and make as much progress as we can. For us to be consistent in this division, we need three new players." The former Lincoln City boss has breathed a new wave of optimism into the club this summer, such that was ground out of the fanbase in Kenny Jackett's dogged spell at the helm. Supporters will be hoping they can hold on to at least one of Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness. The manager continued: "Not everyone has to leave, maybe one or two. It’s not a perfect science, what we need and what we want, and what should happen and could happen and might happen.

"You usually haven’t got control of it all, so we’ll just see. We are hoping for something (an arrival) this week, but there’s nothing imminent." Pompey welcome Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday evening, Steve Cotterill's side are yet to pick up a point this term and Cowley will be hoping his side can put the transfer rumours on the back burner with a third successive victory. The Verdict It is good honesty and transparency with the supporters that Cowley is not hiding the fact that the club may lose a key player or two before the window is out. Curtis and Harness in particular are easily ready for the step up a division and with Pompey's agonising play-off defeats in recent years, may want to move while they can. The club will be confident that they can attract some impressive loan players from Premier League clubs in the next fortnight to bolster their promotion push and should Cowley have the cheque book to reinvest some of the incoming funds from an outgoing transfer, Pompey could assemble an even more exciting squad by the end of the window than currently at the manager's disposal.