Daniel Farke insists Norwich City's transfer strategy is setting the Canaries up for a tilt at Championship promotion - next season.
Farke remains realistic over the short-term aims, with his squad eight points away from the play-off spots ahead of hosting Middlesbrough at Carrow Road this weekend.
But adding fresh talent last month and sanctioning the departures of some of his more established players signals the re-build is entering a new phase.
'It is important right now we continue to plan for next season,' he said.
'We have earned so much money in the transfer window and Stuart Webber has done an outstanding job in these two transfer windows.
'From a financial point of view that was so important for the club.
'If you look at what other clubs can spend, in terms of transfer fees and salaries, then you don't have to speak about promotion.
'But in the second half of this season we have played six games so far and taken 13 points.
'That is a good average and we are in a brilliant shape.
'We should enjoy this and we can plan early for another season on this level.
'Anything else that comes on top is extra.
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'Now we have the 40 points we do not have to be concerned about relegation or what might happen if we were to lose two games in a row.'
Alex Pritchard was the headline departure, but Cameron Jerome and Harry Toffolo also moved on after long associations with the club. The exits of Russell Martin and Steven Naismith - to Scotland on loan moves - underlined the duo do not feature in Farke's immediate plans.
The City head coach swelled his German-based contingent with the signings of Dennis Srbeny, Onel Hernandez and Moritz Leitner on loan, but the identity on the passport is immaterial.
'We looked at the English market but when you discuss salaries and transfer fees you almost think we should keep Alex Pritchard, because we have to spend too much money,' he said.
'To bring in players with quality and good character without spending millions of pounds, you have to be creative.
'You go to Germany, go to Holland, go to Spain or go to the lower leagues in this country, like we did with Sean Raggett.
'He has adapted pretty quickly and it is the same with Ben Godfrey at Shrewsbury.'
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Farke allowed Todd Cantwell to join Fortuna Sittard on loan, in a bid to get the same exposure as the likes of Godfrey and Carlton Morris, but the City head coach is convinced the academy production line will prove its worth.
'When we speak about our recruitment and you lose a player like Alex Pritchard there is always a question, in my view, to start with the academy and ask is it possible to replace him with one of our own?' he said.
'When Alex was injured at the start of the season we didn't bring in a new number 10.
'We trusted James Maddison.
'At left back we were a little bit weak and we said we'll wait for Jamal Lewis.
'It is always the best way.
'But I am not naïve. If you want to be successful you need extra quality.
'Then it is not about the passport, but does it fit with the quality and is he desperate to play for Norwich? Not if they are from Barcelona or Dortmund or Newcastle.
'For me, it is not about the nationality.
'Christoph Zimmermann is the best example.
'He is more desperate to play for Norwich than a guy born in Newcastle.
'When we lose, Christoph is there with tears in his eyes and he identifies with the club.'
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