PHIL Parkinson hopes Wanderers will be bidding hard cash by the end of the transfer window.

After a summer of strengthening his squad with free transfers the Whites boss is angling to invest after watching his League One rivals do the same.

The likes of Charlton Athletic and Sheffield United have done plenty of business in the past few weeks to further their promotion cause.

And though Wanderers’ first order of business will be to finalise the futures of trialists David Wheater, Neal Eardley and Danny Collins, Parkinson is targeting a statement of intent later in the window if finances will allow.

“That’s the market we need to get ourselves into,” he told The Bolton News. “We’re not there yet, as people know, but that has to be the aim.

“There are a lot of players with a year left on their contract who we could go out there and bid for. We’ve targeted some we feel we can bring in but we’ll have to wait and see.

“At the moment we’re in the market for the lads who are out of contract and who have been here on trial.

“But the aim – and not just for me, but for the chairman as well – is to get into a position where we can spend cash.”

Wanderers have their final pre-season friendly at home to Preston North End tomorrow and a last chance for experimentation before the big kick off against Sheffield United.

Parkinson admits he won’t have the squad completely as he would want it by August 6 but – injuries allowing – knows the line-up he will name against the Blades.

“We’d know, more or less, what we’d go with if working with our existing players but I’m hoping there are some more faces in the building by then,” he said.

“By the time the Sheffield United game comes around I’d like to add to what I have got but the window is open through August and hopefully we can keep chipping away and improving things.

“There are teams all over this division spending money and strengthening and we’re pleased with the lads we have brought in – but we need a little more, and everyone is aware of it.”

Wanderers will hold their annual family fun day before the Preston game, which starts at 10am. A full squad signing session will also take place.