BURNLEY boss Brian Laws says he want all his signings for the new season on board by the time the squad travel to Singapore for their pre-season tour on July 17.

Laws returned from holiday yesterday and has revealed that he is making progress with a number of targets – with striker Billy Sharp thought to be closing in on a Turf Moor switch.

Burnley have money to spend this summer and the manager hopes to have completed deals to bring more players to Turf Moor in time for the start of pre-season training on July 1.

The Clarets are scheduled to play friendlies against Bury and Oldham before travelling to the Far East for a three-match tour of Singapore, and Laws wants to use that trip to help his new squad to bond.

“Even though I have been away, I have been making contact with agents and players,” said the Clarets boss.

“There has been good progress made while I have been away.

“Progress is being made and we feel very confident that we will achieve those targets.

“I am talking to agents and we are hoping to start to see some good signings come in over the next week or so.

“We have identified a few targets where we want to strengthen and we are hoping to progress that rapidly before we get back to pre-season on July 1.

“I certainly want to complete all our signings before we travel to Singapore on the 17th."

Sharp, who impressed in the Championship on loan at Doncaster last season, is expected to join from Sheffield United.

Burnley have also had substantial bids turned down for midfielders Peter Whittingham and Andrew Driver, with the latter travelling to Lithuania yesterday for talks with Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov over his future.

Wigan, Middlesbrough, Chelsea and FC Twente are also thought to be interested.

The Clarets have a sizeable transfer kitty following the £7.5m sale of Steven Fletcher to Wolves, although Laws says that some players linked to the club in the national press have been wide of the mark.

“The situation we are in is a healthy one so everyone imagines we are going after every Tom, Dick and Harry," he said.

“We have targets in place and have made contact with them.

"But we are very professional here and only when we actually do the deal and it’s signed will we reveal those targets, which is only fair and right.

“I can’t stop any gossip but we will do our business professionally and I hope the supporters appreciate that.

“I hope the supporters will be pleased with the progress we have made with players already and I’m sure with the squad we’ve already got in hand it stands us good stead for a very promising season ahead.

“If we had a game tomorrow we could put out a good team, so anyone we bring in to add to that can only be a bonus and make us even better.”