A "hurting" David Healy expects Linfield to be active in the January transfer market, but admits some players will potentially have to leave Windsor Park to allow new faces to arrive.
The Blues currently sit top of the Irish Premiership but have struggled with injuries this season, and Tuesday night's BetMcLean Cup defeat to Glentoran further highlighted the need for reinforcements.
Defender Scot Whiteside limped off in the first half, potentially adding to Healy's growing dilemma, while the Linfield boss highlighted a lack of attacking options from the bench in the 1-0 loss to the Glens.
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Healy admits it will be a challenge balancing the books during the transfer window, and says Linfield face an uphill battle against rival clubs who have enjoyed investment in recent years.
He said: "We are always looking come January. We might need to get rid of one or two to acquire the funds needed to bring new faces in.
"We won't rush into things. We have been looking at potential options, but as a club we don't have bundles of money or huge investors. We need to cut our cloth accordingly and if we do want to bring someone in, that they are coming in for the correct reasons in January.
"We might have to get rid of players, potentially. It is always difficult balancing the books. I have been on record the last number of years. We don't have the level of investment that we used to have.
"Others have proven and shown that they potentially have a few more quid in the coffers than we do. Again, it is my job to search for new players, and make sure we get the right people in."
Glentoran claimed their third successive derby win over Linfield this season with Tuesday's 1-0 success in the BetMcLean Cup.
James Douglas' 88th-minute goal sealed the victory this time, the teenage midfielder's deflected effort giving Chris Johns no chance.
And while the Glens celebrated another 'Big Two' success, Healy was left nursing another painful defeat to the club's arch rivals.
"I am hurting. Absolutely. When you lose any game you hurt. When you lose against Glentoran three times, of course it hurts," he added.
"You have to park it at some stage, but I told the players tonight to get in the car and go home, and actually feel hurt tonight. Don't just switch off, or switch over and start thinking 'we are onto Dungannon next'.
"We don't play Dungannon tonight or tomorrow, so they should take some time to think about this defeat. Sometimes as football people, you maybe don't think too much about the disappointments.
"At the end of the day, sometimes disappointments and failure can be fuel for future games. We will try and use that. It will be important over the coming weeks.
"It is a cup competition we wanted to progress in tonight. I feel hugely disappointed we have gone out. That's frustrating and disappointing."
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