UPDATE: Portsmouth boss delivers transfer latest and chances of arrival before Sheffield Wednesday opener

And that means a winger arriving before the League One curtain-raiser at Sheffield Wednesday is now looking unlikely.

But Cowley is still hopeful the players he has earmarked to bolster his flanks and add pace to his squad will arrive at Fratton Park.

Pompey completed a move for exciting Spurs striker Dane Scarlett on Thursday night, with the highly-touted striker arriving on a season-long loan.

The 18-year-old becomes Cowley’s ninth summer signing, with attention now turning to strengthening wide areas.

Cowley indicated last weekend he was upbeat a new player could be in the building in that position before the league opener on Saturday.

That’s no longer the case, with Pompey having to stay patient in a wait to get the deals done.

Cowley said: ‘We’re just trying to make it happen.

‘We really wanted to try to get one before the weekend, but we’re not sure that’ll be possible now.

‘We definitely need to add to that area of the pitch and we know what we want to add.

‘We’re just playing the waiting game really, there are one or two we really like that we think will be available - just not right now.

‘It’s ongoing really and you never really know, you’re just in a chain and it’s how quickly the chain moves.’

Cowley explained when it came to wingers, the ambition is to land a young talent on the rise permanently along with a temporary addition.

The Blues boss has detailed exactly what he wants from the next players through the door, but admitted it will be hard ticking every box.

He added: ‘In an ideal world we’d like to bring another young player in on a permanent and potentially a loan as well.

‘I’d like to have five wingers because there’s five subs now, and you’d like to have some pace and power from the bench. That could be really vital.

‘It’s nice if they could play off both sides but we’re looking for someone on the right because we’ve lost Marcus Harness, who predominantly played on that side.

‘We all want that winger who can go on the outside and cross, come on the inside and shoot and then have that pace and one v one domination - and could also take set-pieces. I think I’ve just described the next John Barnes!’