Frustrated Eddie Howe issues new transfer plea - A clear message to owners despite FFP issues?

Eddie Howe's latest quotes on the transfer front are quite telling. Not only do we get a sense of his frustration and admission of 'dark days' over the summer, he makes it abundantly clear how much we "need" new signings to compete next season.

Despite being 'patient and understanding' towards our FFP restrictions that have severely impacted our budget, this line seemed key: "It’s not a case of we want to do it, we need to do it."

The boss insists that squad depth will be "huge" this year as we prepare to compete on four fronts and play three times a week. He reveals his plan to rotate and bring in players of "equal standard" - a luxury we won't be afforded unless we can bring in at least two or three more signings in the final six weeks of the window.

Howe accepts that we "have a lot of work to do" to make that a reality, but his latest comments come with a tinge of frustration and urgency. Here's what he's had to say:

"Depth [of squad] is huge for us this year. With the competitions that we’re in, having three games a week, we need to be able to rotate the team, but to be able to bring in players who are of equal standard.

"That’s what we’re looking to do, but we know we have a lot of work to do that. Players are expensive these days. We’re working within FFP guidelines, which is very difficult for us. We might need to be creative, but we’re trying to look at every avenue we can to make the club stronger.

"We have a very strict budget that we’re trying to work within. Always with FFP, there are certain things you can be creative on, but we don’t have a huge budget to work with.

"At times there have been frustrations and dark days. We know the challenges that we face. Through the summer I’ve been through all the emotions.

"I’m very pleased to get Sandro in, but we know we need more. We’re working hard to do that all summer.

"I’m patient and understand the parameters we’re working in, but I also know the needs we have. For me, it’s not a case of we want to do it, we need to do it."