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Tony Mowbray said Blackburn Rovers owners Venky's "want to help" as he seeks to sign a player who could add "magic dust" to his squad.
The 62-year-old was appointed manager this summer at Ewood Park for the second time and says the owners, who have had a turbulent relationship with supporters during their 16-year tenure, have given him positive signs.
The Championship side have brought in midfielder Moussa Baradji, after a successful loan spell, and winger Jayden Fevrier but in a meeting with the owners Mowbray stressed the need for more money to be spent.
"I told them I think we need a little bit of help," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"I suggested to the owners that teams [which] Rovers should be in and around are spending £10 million on this player and £10 million on that player.
"My job is to drive the team to perform at a high level, but football is a game where the fine margins sometimes make a difference and the guys who make a difference, score the goals that turn a 0-0 draw into a 1-0 win.
"We need to see if we can find them and they don't come cheap, generally."
Asked what response that got from the owners, Mowbray replied: "I think they want to help. I just said to them that I want them to enjoy the weekend, to enjoy when their team is playing and they're watching in India."
Mowbray added he wanted the owners to "see a team they should be proud of" but that the competitiveness in the Championship this season would be high.
"Like any supporter I want them to go to games and know this team are giving everything they've got," he said.
"I [said] that this is a tough league this year. West Ham United have come down and Wolverhampton Wanderers and there are some big teams with the Middlesbroughs and Southamptons.
"Teams are on the up from last year [like] Millwall, Norwich and Swansea.
"We need some help to make sure we can compete against these teams week in, week out."
Rovers finished five points above the relegation zone last season after manager Michael O'Neill took over from Valerien Ismael and guided them to safety, before stepping down from the post.
Mowbray told Venky's representatives that investment is needed to make the team more competitive, and says he had a positive response.
"Without getting definitive numbers they implied to me they would look at it and help," he said.
"It's a very difficult discussion because I don't want to come across as though I know everything.
"I preach my humility and integrity that whatever they invest, hopefully will be spent well and help the football club become better, because I'm sure they want us to win and perform well every week.
"It's very difficult when someone is already investing £20-odd million a year to ask for more, for more, for more."
Mowbray also said that goalkeeper Balazs Toth has turned down a new contract, but indicated he will continue to play a part in the squad until such time as he leaves.
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The 62-year-old was appointed manager this summer at Ewood Park for the second time and says the owners, who have had a turbulent relationship with supporters during their 16-year tenure, have given him positive signs.
The Championship side have brought in midfielder Moussa Baradji, after a successful loan spell, and winger Jayden Fevrier but in a meeting with the owners Mowbray stressed the need for more money to be spent.
"I told them I think we need a little bit of help," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"I suggested to the owners that teams [which] Rovers should be in and around are spending £10 million on this player and £10 million on that player.
"My job is to drive the team to perform at a high level, but football is a game where the fine margins sometimes make a difference and the guys who make a difference, score the goals that turn a 0-0 draw into a 1-0 win.
"We need to see if we can find them and they don't come cheap, generally."
Asked what response that got from the owners, Mowbray replied: "I think they want to help. I just said to them that I want them to enjoy the weekend, to enjoy when their team is playing and they're watching in India."
'We need to make sure we can compete'
Mowbray added he wanted the owners to "see a team they should be proud of" but that the competitiveness in the Championship this season would be high.
"Like any supporter I want them to go to games and know this team are giving everything they've got," he said.
"I [said] that this is a tough league this year. West Ham United have come down and Wolverhampton Wanderers and there are some big teams with the Middlesbroughs and Southamptons.
"Teams are on the up from last year [like] Millwall, Norwich and Swansea.
"We need some help to make sure we can compete against these teams week in, week out."
Rovers finished five points above the relegation zone last season after manager Michael O'Neill took over from Valerien Ismael and guided them to safety, before stepping down from the post.
Mowbray told Venky's representatives that investment is needed to make the team more competitive, and says he had a positive response.
"Without getting definitive numbers they implied to me they would look at it and help," he said.
"It's a very difficult discussion because I don't want to come across as though I know everything.
"I preach my humility and integrity that whatever they invest, hopefully will be spent well and help the football club become better, because I'm sure they want us to win and perform well every week.
"It's very difficult when someone is already investing £20-odd million a year to ask for more, for more, for more."
Mowbray also said that goalkeeper Balazs Toth has turned down a new contract, but indicated he will continue to play a part in the squad until such time as he leaves.
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