Financial realities have affected Watford's transfer business, accepts Gian Luca Nani, but the club remain confident that they have time to sign the players they need this month.
Nani, the group technical director, revealed that rival clubs have coughed up big loan fees and salaries in the range of £30-40k for the Hornets' targets, but says work is going on every day to fill the squad.
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Alessio Dionisi is not keeping his recruitment hopes quiet, claiming again after Sunday's 2-1 win over Southampton that he hopes "many players" arrive to round off a squad that currently features just two centre-backs.
Dionisi has previously expressed his desire for every outgoing player to be replaced, which with Imran Louza set to join Nestory Irankunda out of the exit door would mean adding a central midfielder and a winger to the target list.
The immediate priority, though, is two centre-backs and a number nine, with Michail Antonio currently on trial.
Nani wrote in the club's matchday digital digest: "We know exactly where we need to strengthen. We need the right player, with the right mentality, while respecting the budget.
"There have been huge loan fees and wages paid of £30,000 to £40,000 per week for our targets.
"Yes, of course, we would all want our targets in place by now but in the Championship sometimes you have to wait for bigger teams to complete their squads.
"We are working every single day. We still have time."
Alessio Dionisi celebrates with his team (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)
Dionisi, who stressed again that he has been working with two centre-backs throughout his eight week pre-season, hopes to see action taken quickly.
In his post-Southampton press conference, he answered a question about squad depth by talking about recruitment, before reiterating the same message to a different question about the next game at Wrexham.
He said: "Probably, I hope, will arrive other centre-backs, because we need them.
"I hope many players will arrive to complete this team.