Oldham Athletic boss Micky Mellon will not be limited to free transfers in building a squad that can challenge for promotion from League Two.
Latics last week made Ollie Norburn their third new signing of the summer, on a free from Notts County.
Earlier signings Gus Scott-Morriss and Elliott Nevitt have also come to the end of their contracts, at Southend and Gillingham respectively, and did not require a transfer fee.
But Latics chief executive Darren Royle has said there is money available for transfers, if manager Mellon needs it.
"We've got a budget so it's how you use that budget," he said.
"We might use some of that for bids on players, but ultimately that's down to the manager and how he wants to spend that money."
Latics are spending the summer working on building a squad that can challenge for promotion to League One, with CEO Royle confirming they are in the market for up to nine new players, with a third of those already snapped up.
"Recruitment is well planned ahead," he added. "The manager's been supported with further staff in the shape of Greg Strong (Oldham's new head of recruitment) and clarity on budget.
"Some of the recruitment will no doubt be players that haven't been identified that become available in the window that we didn't know about. But we're a lot more prepared this season (than last) due to time."
Latics' season had only recently ended this time last year, following promotion to League Two via the National League play-offs and an extended campaign.
Young Nottingham Forest forward Joe Gardner is understood to be a target but Oldham are facing competition from a number of other clubs.
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