Monk hoping for further Cambridge signings

Garry Monk was Cambridge's third head coach of last season when he was appointed in March

Cambridge United boss Garry Monk is hoping to add more new signings before the start of the new season despite budgetary limitations at the League One club.

The 45-year-old was appointed in March and steered the U's to 18th place in the table last season.

Since then, he has already made eight signings, including experienced midfielders Gary Gardner and Korey Smith.

"We're all well aware that we don't have the biggest budget in the league - what we're trying to do is sign the right players," Monk told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"We are trying to target one or two more but they have to be the right players, that's what we're all very conscious of, not just a number or someone just to fill a place in the squad.

"At the moment, we're just concentrating on what we've got and trying to get the best out of them, improve them, and we're making good steps at this stage."

Cambridge have finished 14th, 20th and 18th since winning promotion in 2021 and Monk believes a change to a more possession-based style is necessary to push them further up the table.

"We're trying to accelerate as quick as we can but those things do take time," he added. "We have to show patience and we will do that, as a club.

"But trying to put that on the pitch week after week, it takes a lot of work.

"The players' attitude towards it and their application has been brilliant from day one (of pre-season) and we'll continue to work in that way. As always at this stage, there is a lot of work to do."

Cambridge will host Championship club West Bromwich Albion in their next friendly on Friday, before facing Colchester United at St Neots the following day.

They visit Stockport County in the first league game of the new campaign on 10 August.