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Nathan Jones says he wants six or seven new signings this summer - and he’d love to see them start rolling in by the end of the month.

The Stoke boss is looking for at least two in defence, midfield and attack, while a new goalkeeper remains high on the agenda ahead of Jack Butland’s anticipated exit.

His comments come as Stoke are linked with Oldham’s 21 year-old defender George Edmundson, while Jones’ interest in Portsmouth centre half Matt Clarke will intensify if Pompey fail to win promotion from League One.

Jones says the wheels are rolling firmly on the transfer front as he aims to oversee a huge summer turnover of players at the bet365.

“Now the season has finished, we are able to have conversations with people,” he said.

“The identifying process is there. The initial conversations would have been had and it’s now about seeking permission to speak to those and getting them over the line.

“Hopefully in May, we can get a few.

“The majority need to be in (for the start of pre-season on June 26) because we want to set the environment and the tone as early as possible and that can only happen if we do our recruitment early.”

Asked for a probable number of new faces, following last summer’s arrival of nine new signings, Jones continued: “It will probably be in the region of six or seven. Key ones. Good characters, good athletes of varying ages and experience, but ones we think will take us forward.

(Image: EMPICS)

“We are looking at key areas (of the pitch), ones where we are not as strong as we need to be.

“Key areas for philosophy, for our shape, that’s the big thing.

“You need it (competition) in every position. Without that you get lethargy.

“I like to work with a squad of 23. Three goalkeepers, 20 outfield players, supplemented slightly with a few younger ones to see where they are in pre-season.

“But moving forward, we want to work with 20, two in every position for real competition.”

There will be less movement behind the scenes, however, as Jones hinted his business is just about done there after adding assistant manager Paul Hart to his backroom staff shortly after his own arrival in January.

He said: “We’ve inherited some staff we are very pleased with and also brought in our own. We are very strong there.

“There won’t be any more, the key staff are pretty much set.

“I imagine there will be certain personnel changes through the club, but nothing major, just tinkering.

“We’ve had meetings so the staff know how to move forward, not just the players.

“There’s a good staff here and we just want to make sure they are all buying into everything and are motivated.

“They will want to know they are part and parcel of the team and that’s what we are going to reassure them about.”