Goodwin eyes Euro return with 'big rebuild' at Dundee Utd

Manager Jim Goodwin aims to lessen Dundee United's reliance on loans as he embarks on another "big rebuild" at Tannadice.

Of the six new signings so far, only Isaac Pappoe is on a temporary deal, with the midfielder arriving from Ferencvaros in Hungary.

Across last season, United had six players on loan as they finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership, including top scorer Sam Dalby and goalkeeper Jack Walton.

Goodwin may yet try to tempt back Luca Stephenson and Emmanuel Adegboyega, who were also regulars last term, since he is far from finished in the transfer market.

"It seems to be one big rebuild after another," he told BBC Sport Scotland.

"I feel it's the way it's been for probably the last five or six years of my managerial career.

"It would be nice to go into next summer and only need three or four players. But that doesn't ever seem to happen.

"We relied heavily on the loan market last year, which is something that we're trying to change a little bit.

"We've signed a number of players on permanent contracts already. But we've got a job on our hands to put a squad together that's going to make us as competitive as possible in the league first and foremost.

"But also we want to compete in all the other competitions and we have the Europa Conference qualifier, that first competitive game at the end of this month."

Having enjoyed an impressive return to the top flight last season, Goodwin is out to emulate that success.

"Our points return in the opening 11 fixtures was really good," he reflected. "I think since August last year we never dropped out of that top half.

"The objective changes as the season goes along but the fact we finished fourth, everybody, from a Dundee United perspective, would want us to be at least in that top six and competing for those European places.

"We're not stupid. We understand how difficult that's going to be, especially when you see the kind of investment that's been made in some of the other clubs."