BOSS Scott Parker insisted Cherries were still trying to add to their squad in the summer transfer window but described it as a “difficult market”.

The head coach was speaking ahead of his side’s Championship opener against West Bromwich Albion at Vitality Stadium tomorrow (7.45pm).

Parker has brought in the likes of Emiliano Marcondes and loanee Leif Davis to add to his ranks this season but the Cherries boss is still keen to bolster his ranks further.

Asked whether he was any closer to new additions, the former England midfielder said: “We’re trying. It’s a difficult market for many reasons.

“Firstly, the pandemic and what that’s brought in terms of finances and stuff like that. I think everyone who will sit in this position this year as a manager will probably be saying the same thing – it’s difficult.

“Then what comes with a transfer market of course is the different hurdles you have to face. The challenges of competition, other clubs wanting certain players, teams not wanting their better players to leave.

“These are all challenges of what we are facing constantly.

“What I can say is we are trying our hardest and the people in the places to be are spending every minute of every day trying to improve and make our squad stronger – for which is going to be a long season ahead of us with a lot of football matches.

“We are doing all we can in that sense.”