TONY PULIS has identified the loan signings he wants to make before the end of the month – and the Middlesbrough manager is confident his leading targets want to move to the Riverside.

Despite his side sitting at the top of the Championship table ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Bristol City, Pulis remains convinced the current squad lacks both the quality and depth required to mount a sustained promotion push.

He has passed on a list of targets to pursue before the Football League loan window closes on August 31, but despite Middlesbrough officials holding conversations with a number of clubs and agents this week, a deal remains elusive.

Everton duo Yannick Bolasie and Mo Besic remain leading targets, while West Ham midfielder Robert Snodgrass has also been linked with a temporary switch to the Riverside in the last few days, but with the Riverside hierarchy adamant they will not be paying over the odds for anyone, it has proved difficult to recruit.

A permanent deal for Besic collapsed when the Bosnian midfielder’s wage demands escalated dramatically on deadline-day, but Pulis is confident Middlesbrough remains an attractive destination for potential signings. However, the Boro boss also concedes it is still proving difficult to get deals over the line.

“It’s been hard trying to get players in,” said Pulis. “We know what players we want. We’ve spoken to clubs, it’s just a case of getting the deals done, that’s the big issue.

“Without going into too much detail, I think the players know about our interest, and from everything that’s been said or not been said, I think the players would like to come. That’s not me having spoken to them, but it’s other people telling me stuff. It’s just about doing the deals.

“I’ve not had anybody being disrespectful or saying they don’t want to join Middlesbrough or move up to the North-East. The response I’ve had from other clubs, and if we are given the opportunity to speak to players, is that people are very keen to come up here if a deal could be sorted out.”

While Pulis was extremely frustrated in the immediate aftermath of deadline day, his approach to transfer matters has softened slightly in the last few days.

Nevertheless, he remains adamant that further additions are required, claiming that centre-half is the only area of his squad that does not need improvement.

He also insists he is not the only person calling for reinforcements. An influx of loan signings would mean added competition, but the members of the current squad fully accept the need for new faces.

“We’ve got expectations to be at the top of the table and to be at the top of the table you can't afford to lose the players we've lost and not replace them,” said the Boro boss.

“At the moment, our depth is just not strong enough, the quality in the group has to be improved and the depth has to be improved otherwise I'm absolutely convinced we'll just fall away.

“It’s not me shouting and saying, ‘We need players in’ - the players in the dressing room know that we need players in as well.

“They are not stupid, they understand the situation, they understand what this level's like and what it needs and what it takes so they are waiting as well for players to come in. It’s not me moaning as a manager, it’s the group.”

Boro continue their Championship programme at Ashton Gate this afternoon, and having made ten changes for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Notts County, Pulis is set to revert to the side that started last weekend’s Championship win over Birmingham City.

Dael Fry has recovered from the knock he sustained in midweek, Lewis Wing will continue his graduation to the senior ranks in midfield, and Britt Assombalonga will once again start as a lone centre-forward.

Jordan Hugill and Rudy Gestede are due to start training with the first-team squad next week, but will not be considered for this afternoon’s game.

“We've got one or two knocks,” said Pulis.  “Jordan's still unavailable, but next week he will come out on the grass and train with us. We’re hoping Rudy might be joining in next week too, fingers crossed. For now though, we go with what we've got.”

Middlesbrough (probable, 4-3-3): Randolph; Shotton, Fry, Flint, Friend; Wing, Clayton, Howson; Braithwaite, Assombalonga, Downing.