Fulham boss Jean Tigana will continue to scour the transfer market after admitting he needs at least three or four more players before his side can push the league’s big boys.
A superb double from Louis Saha was scant consolation for the Cottagers as they slumped to a 3-2 defeat at champions Manchester United on their return to the top flight after a 33-year absence.
Last season’s First Division champions led twice in a stirring display at Old Trafford before goals from David Beckham and two from the lethal Ruud van Nistelrooy gave Sir Alex Ferguson’s men the three points.
And Tigana knows he has to strengthen his side and could only watch in envy as United could afford to leave out the likes of Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from his starting line-up.
A striker – possibly Oliver Bierhoff – and a midfielder top his list of targets, but he said attracting top players to Craven Cottage was proving hard with the club yet to establish itself in the top flight after being out of the highest division for 33 years.
“It is very difficult for me because we need to have a bigger squad,” he said. “We had two players suspended and two others injured.
“We need three or four players, a striker and a midfielder. It would be difficult for us if Saha got injured.
“I would like the problem of Sir Alex Ferguson. But it is hard to get the players to play for us because we have been out of this division for 33 years.
“The top players want to play in the Champions League – I understand that, but it is a step-by-step process for us and it can be a long way for us to be a big club.”