Espanyol's general sporting director spoke to Radio Marca's Pericos programme on Tuesday, days before Manolo González's side open their LaLiga campaign against Levante, and gave a frank assessment of a squad he says still needs reinforcement.
"The squad is at somewhere between 70 and 75 per cent of its final shape. At least two or three more players need to arrive," Monchi said, while stressing that Espanyol would not be rushed into paying over the odds. "Not everything can be controlled. What we're not going to do is overpay out of desperation."
Asked whether there was still room to operate within the club's finances, he confirmed there was, if not enough for major statements.
"There's still some margin, not enough to set off fireworks, but there is margin, which is why we're talking about new signings."
Monchi also addressed players whose futures remain undecided, making clear that anyone still at the club once the window shuts would be treated as a full member of the squad rather than a peripheral figure.
"If it gets to 31 August or 1 September and they're still here, then they'll be respected and they'll be squad players like anyone else, and we'll work with them."
On the possibility of bringing in cover for the injured Kike García, he left the door open without suggesting the striker would be replaced outright.
"It could happen, but without pushing him out, obviously."
He was more dismissive of recent reports linking Espanyol with Jeremy Arévalo, saying the club were aware of the player but not actively pursuing him.
"He's a player our sporting management knows, obviously, but he's not a player we have in mind right now."
Asked about Marcos Fernández's release clause, Monchi was direct: the figure would not change regardless of external pressure.
"Marcos has a clause. That's it. And whatever it is, it is. We don't have to raise his salary or do anything else. Marcos's clause is Marcos's clause."
He was similarly measured on interest in Felix Uduokhai, a player he knows from the German's time in the Bundesliga but not one under serious consideration.
"Felix is a good player, I know him from when he played in Germany, but again, he's one more name among the thousands we're told every day we're going to sign."
On the criticism aimed at head coach Manolo González during pre-season, Monchi urged perspective: "Sometimes we get carried away by social media, and it's not so much the noise as the reality."
He also addressed his own settling-in period since arriving at the club, describing it as smooth on a personal level, and praised his working relationship with owner Alan Pace.
"What I expected is what's happening. A continuous line of communication, completely direct, and I'm very happy."