Caley Thistle manager John Robertson hopes to add up to five new signings to his squad next week.
Inverness have a squad of 13 for the upcoming Championship season following the release of attacker Scott Boden, who has been freed from his contract with two years remaining.
The Highlanders’ only signing of the summer so far has been former Falkirk forward John Baird but Robertson is optimistic he is closing in on fresh additions.
One of them looks set to be former AFC Wimbledon attacker George Oakley, who has been offered a one-year contract, while Robertson is also running the rule over former Coventry midfielder Ivor Lawton, who has arrived on trial.
Robertson said: “Hopefully by this time next week we will have another three or four, or possibly five signings.
“We can then start getting into the nitty gritty of who is going to play, and who is showing enough to start the games. But I’ve been encouraged by the quality of player we’ve attracted and are very close to signing.
“We need to bolster what we have here. We have a really good squad of players, good experience and good ability.
“We need to add the finishing touches to that.
“Right now, our priority is defence. We think we’re over the line with two defenders who will be joining us this week to create that competition.
“We’re very close to getting another young lad on loan.”
One of Inverness’ new additions will be former Ross County and Partick Thistle goalkeeper Mark Ridgers, who is finalising his move to Caledonian Stadium after agreeing a deal with Caley Jags.
Robertson added: “It is all agreed with Mark and we’re just waiting for the final aspects of it with his agent. He adds good competition there. When he played with St Mirren three years back he was their player of the year in the Championship.
“Mark’s at an age, 26, where he has flitted about and apart from that one season at St Mirren hasn’t nailed down a regular starting position. That’s up to him. He has to come here and earn it.”
Robertson says the wages freed up from the departure of Boden, who failed to make an impact after joining from Newport County last summer, will be reinvested, adding: “We are bringing in two players on Scott’s wages, with a little bit left over.
“I’ve been enthused by the calibre of player who wants to come and play for us. We’ve turned down some decent players we felt weren’t quite the right fit.”