Rafael Benitez expects Everton to recruit ‘two or three players’ in January.
Benitez was hamstrung by Financial Fair Play restrictions in the summer market, with the Blues forced to make predominantly free transfer signings.
Demarai Gray’s £1.5 million arrival from Bayer Leverkusen constituted their sole cash outlay of the five player signed in the previous transfer window.
However Benitez remains confident that his side will add reinforcements next month amid speculation of a deal for Dynamo Kiev left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko.
“We are working hard [on transfers],” said the Everton manager.
“At the same time, everyone knows how difficult the transfer window is in January, but we are still working hard to try and find some targets to improve the team.
“Also what we’ve noticed talking with different teams is that everyone is a little bit worried with COVID-19, so nobody wants to spend too much money.
“That is complicated but I am quite confident that we will do two or three things.
“We are trying to find the right players for positions not just for the present, but also for the future.
“I’m sure we will bring two or three players and we will bring the kind of players that want to be here, which is the main thing for me.”
He added: “We are in contact with clubs but it’s not just me – the board are [also] looking for the right options.
“Not everybody has a lot of money to spend so we have to be careful when we buy, sell or loan players.”