Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has targeted “four or five” summer signings starting with next opponents Portsmouth and has hinted at a Molineux clear out.

Extra firepower, a winger and defensive cover are on McCarthy’s radar after securing Premier League survival.

Having tried to sign Pompey duo Aaron Mokoena and Tommy Smith last summer and been impressed with Aruna Dindane since, tomorrow’s game at Fratton Park could prove to be a fruitful destination.

The manager said: “I’d like maybe four or five that would improve the squad.

“We’re playing a Portsmouth team tomorrow and there’s a team for sale with a list going around with all the prices on, so we’ll get a good opportunity to look at them.”

McCarthy admitted for the first time that he went for too much quantity over quality after signing 11 players over the two transfer windows, with only three – goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, Ronald Zubar and Kevin Doyle becoming regulars.

The Wolves boss said: “We probably had too many last year – we needed to do it to bolster the squad. But to get everybody in and expect them all to gel and play right is optimistic in the extreme.

“The reality is we’ve added about four players to the one that got us up and that became the real solid team towards the end of the season.

“We need that similar four or five. Things might change – there might be some swopped or sold or some might not be happy and want to go away.

“There might be some who have been in the squad and not playing who won’t be happy and will want to play. We may have to change things around and get somebody in prepared to fight for their place.

“It does get difficult for players that have been in the team and then go out because they want to play. If they can’t see themselves getting back in, they will want to leave.

“I don’t know and I haven’t had the conversation with anyone but that’s how it works.”

Wolves bid £5m for Stephen Hunt in January knowing the Hull winger was vastly overpriced and McCarthy admitted prices may be more reasonable now.

He said: “In January we were all looking at our positions and one player could make that difference, so you’re prepared to pay over the top.

“Now it settles down and I imagine one or two who didn’t sell might be wishing they had.”