BURNLEY manager Eddie Howe hopes to add to his squad today, whether Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears leave for Bolton Wanderers or not.

The duo, who have entered the final year of their contracts, have been given permission to speak with their former manager Owen Coyle at the Reebok Stadium, after the Clarets board accepted a joint offer in the region of £3million.

Both players were in the stand for Saturday’s 3-1 win over Torquay United in the last friendly of their south west tour, and remained with the squad that night before travelling back to the north west yesterday.

It is likely that both will hold talks with Bolton today. Should the sale be completed, money has been promised to Howe to strengthen.

Until then the Burnley boss’s hands are tied – however, he intends to make at least one new signing today regardless.

Howe was reluctant to reveal the identity of his target, but it is not thought to be versatile Arsenal striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

Following a string of loan spells, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is ready to offload the 20-year-old academy product for £1million.

Although funds are available, the Clarets are facing stiff competition from Ipswich and Portsmouth and it seems likely that he will stay in the south of England.

Nevertheless, with less than two weeks to go until the start of the new season, Howe has vowed to move quickly to replace Eagles and Mears should they move on.

“We’re going to have to build again and we have to build quite quickly,” said the Burnley boss, who was hoping to go into the new season with the rest of his squad intact after allowing Graham Alexander, Clarke Carlisle and Chris Iwelumo to leave in pre-season.

He has now vowed to act quickly, but cautiously.

“We’ve only got two weeks and that will fly by.

"Whoever we bring in we’re going to have to try to integrate very quickly into the team and how we play and get to know the lads better.

“Although we’re in a race against time – with only two weeks until the start of the season – you still want to get the right player.

"You don’t want to panic and bring someone in who isn’t to our style.”