Plymouth Argyle have made signing a new central defender their priority in the January transfer window.
The Pilgrims have Spanish defender Julio Pleguezuelo out until next month with a calf injury while Jack MacKenzie has yet to feature after his own injury issues.
Brendan Galloway has become Argyle’s first-choice left-back in recent weeks, leaving Mathias Ross and Alex Mitchell as the main central pairing.
“I think we’re clear that centre-half is a priority because with Brendan playing so well at left-back, if he plays at left-back, it leaves us no options at centre-half or on the bench at the minute with Pleggy injured,” Cleverley said.
Argyle have made one addition this month with winger Ronan Curtis joining from Port Vale, while Bali Mumba has left Home Park to join League One rivals Huddersfield Town.
While Argyle have recouped a significant part of the £1m they paid for Mumba in the summer of 2023, and no longer have to pay his wages, Cleverley says director of football Derek Adams will only bring in players if they are the right fit.
“I think we might have been guilty in the past of spending budgets that are there just for the sake of spending it,” Cleverley added.
“Derek’s approach will not be that. We won’t spend money for the sake of it.
“If the right player’s there to improve the team and the places we need to strengthen or have more depth, then we’ll do that.
“Just because now we’ve all of a sudden got Bali’s fee, Ronan is the replacement for Bali.
“Now, do we need more depth in there? I’m not sure. We’ve been pretty free scoring at the minute, but if the right player pops up, then there’ll be sufficient funds to go and do something.”
