Yep you have articulately nailed the reason we’ll probably only get one more player in, and likely a cheap speculative loan at that.
It’s a long established fact that the less players he has to choose from the happier Ralph is. All this “we’re looking, it’s difficult, we have to get one or two in we know that” is all bluff and bluster as Ralph beams inwardly at the thought of seeing out the season with 2 established central midfielders, one of them over the hill and a fan of getting suspended.