The manager, who began the week by holding a series of meetings with members of his current squad as he looks to shape his side ahead of what is sure to be a busy summer break, already knows what he wants to add to the team ahead of the opening game of next season.
Dean, who was speaking via the Express & Star, said; "Clarity wise I know what I want in my own head and what I’m looking to add to take the squad forward. For me, we definitely need to add more experience. That is definitely something we need to look at.
"We need leadership, yeah that can come from experience. But young players can talk and affect things on the pitch with communication. That’s something that needs to be worked on and something I need to drive into the players when they come back for pre-season."
Walsall-born Keates then went on to reveal that he has already spoken to some targets as he looks to build a squad for the upcoming campaign, he continued; "Now is the time we can sit down and forward plan. There have been conversations over the past few weeks. I have been speaking to players and we have been putting offers out. Things have been happening on the back-burner because everything was about results.
"From the moment I came in, it was very much a short-term aim to make sure we were still in this league. That was something we had to do just to make sure we got across the line. But now we are looking to build the squad for next season."