SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown wants to bolster his Shrimpers squad with at least five summer signings.

The Blues chief is keen to bolster his options ahead of the forthcoming League One season.

And it is the striking department which Brown believes most needs improving.

“I want to make five or six signings before the start of next season and that definitely has to include strikers,” said the 56-year-old.

“We always knew it was an area of the team we would need to improve this summer and there’s even more urgency now we’ve lost Barry Corr who was our top goalscorer in the last two seasons.”

Brown, who is currently away in the Algarve, has already met with two of his transfer targets, one of whom Echosport understands is a striker who lined up for a locally based League One club last season.

The other target is an attacking midfielder as Brown bids to bring more invention to his team.

“I think we need more creativity and this is exactly why we have identified these two players for the football club,” said the Shrimpers boss.

“We’re quite a long way down the line with these players and hopefully we will be able to sign them but we are still in competition with other clubs.”