MICHAEL Appleton is comfortable with the pace of Oxford United’s business this summer, which fits in with a quiet transfer market across Sky Bet League One.

The U’s head coach was aiming to get a significant chunk of his recruitment for next season done by now.

But so far Charlie Raglan and Scott Shearer are the only completed deals, while Liam Sercombe, Joe Skarz and Chey Dunkley have moved on.

The lack of activity has been a concern for some supporters, but Appleton is happy to bide his time.

He said: “You want to get your business done as quickly as you possibly can, but you don’t want to get the wrong business done.

“There’s no point signing players for the sake of it, just to get them in.

“There’s one or two you’ve got to be really patient with.

“We’re certainly doing that at the minute – hopefully there will be more good news in the near future.”

He added: “I’m very relaxed about it.

“There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes.

“We’re in dialogue with a lot of players and agents. Long may that continue.

“We won’t get all of them, but I’m sure there will be three or four before the season starts that we will get over the line.”

It has been a similar story elsewhere in the division since the end of the season.

Only four League One clubs have brought in more players than the U’s, while seven are yet to make their first signing.

The flip-side is United have yet to receive a formal bid for any of their star names.

Appleton is well aware the club’s strategy is to sell one player each summer, so knows it may only be a matter of time before an approach is made.

But the silver-lining of a big-money exit would be an increase in his playing budget.

“I’ve not heard anything, it goes to show that everything’s a little bit quiet,” Appleton said.

“In an ideal world you wouldn’t want to do it (sell a key player), but we don’t live in an ideal world – we live in reality.

“If I want to try to stretch my budget and the opportunity of getting a better player and paying a little more than I would normally like then it looks as if I’m going to have to be satisfied with that.

“As long as I know the boundaries I can deal with it.”

SUMMER SIGNINGS IN SKY BET LEAGUE ONE UP TO JUNE 7

7 – Bury

5 – Northampton Tn

4 – Peterborough Utd

3 – Gillingham

2 – Oxford Utd, Doncaster Rov, Rotherham Utd, Rochdale

1 – AFC Wimbledon, Bristol Rov, Fleetwood Tn, MK Dons, Oldham Ath, Plymouth Arg, Scunthorpe Utd, Shrewsbury Tn, Wigan Ath

0 – Blackburn Rov, Blackpool, Bradford City, Charlton Ath, Portsmouth, Southend Utd, Walsall