Blackburn Rovers' priority in the transfer window remains a striker despite the long-term injury to Ryan Hedges.
The Welshman is out for 12 weeks, which means there will be little of the season remaining when he returns. Left-wing-back has been a problem position since his injury.
Harry Pickering and Yuri Ribeiro are full-backs whilst Dion De Neve has struggled to convince in that role either. It has raised the question as to whether Rovers need to sign a replacement for Hedges, even if they have other options.
However, Ismael reiterated the priority will be to add another striker to their squad. Rovers have failed to score in four of their last five games and need more firepower.
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"Listen, if we start to say, that is injury, injury, yes, for sure. If you want to replace all the injured players, it would be perfect," he said.
"But at some point, we have to see the balance in the squad, which is clear. We want a second striker. This is one and after, we have to see what is the best thing to do.
"If we can get another defender, another winger, we will see. But at the minute, our priority is to get a striker. But we're looking at those areas as well.
"It's clear that with the long-term injury from Ryan, you put a little bit more pressure on that position if something happens."
Rovers have to balance the numbers in their squad too. They currently have 26 first-team players and can only register 25 with the EFL.
During the January transfer window, they can chop and change as they see fit. However, they must decide on their squad by February 3 and so balancing ins and outs is important.
Hedges' lengthy lay-off begs the question as to whether he will be included. There is perhaps an argument they have a surplus of left-footed centre-backs too.
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"We will see. At the end, we will still have two weeks. So at the minute, we don't need to make any decisions," Ismael said on squad calls.
"But it's clear that in two weeks' time, we will have to make some decisions."
Rovers' lack of options from the bench at Ipswich was stark. A quick look down their substitutes list would provoke the thought as to whether any, barring the goalkeeper, wouldn't have started for Rovers at the weekend.
Ismael doesn't have the same riches and felt he was limited as to how he could change the game after falling 2-0 down so early.
"At the minute, we tried to find ourselves," Ismael said.
"The new player has just arrived. We are trying to find any solutions every time to deal with the situation. We need to stay calm, to ride the storm now, to wait until the players are coming back and to have more energy, more competition.
"Otherwise, it's difficult to have an impact from the bench. We know that, you have to be really clinical, no mistakes, stay strong and then they can help you to come through.
"But after two minutes, to concede the first goal and then just a non-goal and a set-piece, after that it's difficult to come back into the game."
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