Motherwell hope to confirm their first summer signing by the end of the week, according to assistant manager Scott Leitch.The Steelmen have lost striker Ross McCormack to Cardiff, while Simon Lappin returned to Norwich after a loan spell in the second half of last season.

However, midfielder Bob Malcolm has told manager Mark McGhee he will extend his stay at the club following his arrival in February and Leitch expects more good news.

"We're hoping to confirm a deal this Friday to give us our first transfer of the summer," the former Motherwell skipper said. "Over and above that, the manager and I are looking everywhere for new players."

Motherwell travel to an Austrian training camp on Sunday where a German goalkeeper and defender plus a Spaniard who has come through the youth ranks at Real Madrid will join them on trial.

And Leitch believes more new arrivals could join the UEFA Cup qualifiers before the season starts.

"We've been absolutely inundated with faxes and emails from agents and players wanting to come and play here," the former Ross County manager told the club's website.

"That said, we've built a strong core here based on hard work as well as talent and that has came from a predominantly British-based pool of players.

"We've not ruled out anyone yet and we'll have a few foreign trialists in next week to look with the view to improving our current lot."

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