Agents hovering at Tannadice as United admit clubs are keeping close eye on David Goodwillie situation

DUNDEE United hope to make further additions to the squad prior to the new season but fans of the club will have to accept that this will only be achieved on the back of big-name departures.

The players who leave from now on will almost certainly involve a wrench for fans. Those who have already signed off from Tannadice since last season were either not wanted any longer by the club or else had simply decided to try pastures new having come to the end of their contract. David Goodwillie remains, having only recently extended his contract by an extra year to 2013. However, he is also the prize target and could be allowed to leave should circumstances permit.

This does not merely refer to the price being right. Goodwillie is currently facing a charge of rape after an incident in West Lothian at New Year. "There have been no direct enquiries from clubs to me," said United chairman Stephen Thompson yesterday. However, he did suggest he has been approached by agents working as middle-men for clubs hoping to add Goodwillie to their ranks. Sides already credited with an interest include Rangers, Celtic, Everton and Swansea.

"I am working with one or two individuals," added Thompson. "There are clubs interested in one particular player - no surprise there. But we have to sort out his own personal issues first before anything can happen there. So we will see what happens in the next few weeks on that particular front."

Goodwillie's departure might be the only way manager Peter Houston will be able to bring further players in, although goalkeeper Dusan Pernis and wing pair Craig Conway and Danny Swanson have also attracted admiring glances. Houston has already re-signed Willo Flood from Middlesbrough, and has picked up John Rankin, who was released by Hibernian.

Any further new arrivals is reliant on money being brought in, with Houston's budget already at stretching point. The manager would not comment directly on reports linking him with a loan deal for Grant Hanley, the young Blackburn Rovers centre-half who has recently made the breakthrough with Scotland. However, even this would be dependent on a player sale.

"I have no money to bring in any players," said Houston. "I would like to bring players in. I have a list of targets, but it's not as simple or as easy as that.

"I need a player to leave before I can look at adding anyone. If nobody comes in for any of our players I expect to be going with what I've got.

"I have actually overspent to get Willo Flood and John Rankin in. The chairman has pushed the boat out to get them in. He's given me a wee bit more because of being in Europe. If I went to him now asking for money I know what the answer would be."

Houston did admit that he would like a new centre-half, a berth Hanley would be able to fill.He wouldn't say no to a new left-sided player either. But like Walter Smith when he elected to splurge 4 million to sign quality in Nikica Jelavic rather than bring in three or four more moderate players, Houston has chosen to spend a large proportion of his salary kitty on Flood and Rankin. He must also allow for the wage hike which automatically kicks in as longer serving players prepare for another year.

"The budget has not actually gone down, to be fair to the chairman," explained Houston. "What has happened is that although players have left, the ones who are still here have it written into their contracts that they are due a rise.

"So you maybe have four or five of them getting more money and that is eating up a lot. That is the way it has balanced."

Houston has never been afraid to blood youngsters. This old United trait might be in evidence again next season. Both Ryan Dow and Dale Hilson were on loan at Forfar Athletic last season, and Houston expects them to make a push for first-team selection next season.

"(Forfar manager] Dick Campbell was delighted with their contribution," said Houston.

"They are playing for points and bonus money for part-time players. It's more real than playing for the youth team because you have to put the foot in and take the knocks."

Hilson has taken the well-trodden route from Stirling to United, via Carse Thistle. Like Duncan Ferguson and Goodwillie before him, he is a striker and benefited from the rough and tumble of the Second Division last season.