Valerien Ismael suggested it's 'likely' that Blackburn Rovers will lose a key player before the transfer window shuts.
Blackburn Rovers are pushing to add a wide player before the deadline at the start of September. Ismael has admitted that they're only likely to sign a right winger this summer unless someone departs.
When pressed on whether that could happen, the head coach conceded it was a strong possibility. He offered little clue as to who he was referring to and batted away a question on whether Lewis Travis had asked to leave.
"I think we need one at least," Ismael said.
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"After that, it will depend on whether some players are going out. We will need to replace them, so it will depend.
"Without losing any players, we will need at least one. That would be good. And if someone is leaving us, we need to replace them."
When pressed whether that was likely, he responded: "Likely, we will see.
"We have some players with one-year contracts, so we know that until the end of the transfer window, anything can happen.
"We are dealing with the board, with the situation from the past. I won't say mistake, but when you miss the chance to extend their contract, then you put yourself in a difficult situation.
"We saw after the last game of the season that we were waiting to extend the contract with a player (Dolan). The player wanted to wait for the situation, so it put you under pressure.
"We forced the transition and it's all about whether we can get the money we expected for the player, or they will be for free next season."
"He's one of the players with one-year contracts. Sonny is one of the players too," Ismael added on Travis.
"He has not asked to go, he played today, he is our captain.
"Some clubs ask for our players, but they are still there. But you never know what can happen. With Callum, it was exactly the same.
"At some point, when a club made the decision to sell him, it happened very quickly. The only thing I can tell you is what we expect. Until the end of the window, some players are coming in and players are going out."
Ismael gave little away as to whether Rovers were any closer to adding the right winger they clearly need and desire. He was quizzed on Koji Miyoshi but didn't offer much.
"We still have three weeks, so I can't tell you anything at the minute," he said.
"We're working hard behind the scenes. I think it's obvious now which position we need.
"As I say, you have your target guy. Either you stay patient until you can get him, or you try to move on to the next one. But at some point, when we think he's the right player for us, we have to do everything."
"There are a lot of players that I like," he said with a smile on Miyoshi.
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