The first of those deals could happen quite soon with a move for Bastia defender Pascal Chimbonda back on the cards.
Latics' interest in the Frenchman cooled earlier in the week when the price being quoted by his club went up, but Jewell is impressed with the quality of the 26-year-old who has a good turn of pace and can play at right-back or in the centre of defence.
They are positions which need addressing following the departures of Nicky Eaden and Ian Breckin to Nottingham Forest.
Breckin completed his £350,000 move to the City Ground last night after agreeing personal terms.
Jewell said: "We've already bought a keeper and we need competition in other areas.
"We need a centre-half with pace, another defender, a midfield player, another striker and maybe a wide player. That is basically all areas which need strengthening and we're working all the time to make it happen. Ideally we would like to bring in five new players and things should start moving now teams are back in training.
"There haven't been too many deals done yet, but in my experience once one happens there is a domino effect.
"I understand the supporters' frustration and I just want to ask them to trust me a little bit. I haven't made too many mistakes in the transfer market at Wigan, and I'm asking for a bit of faith.
"Over the summer, I could have bought in 20, 30 or 40 players, some of them might have got people excited, but they wouldn't have been the right ones in my opinion.
"The fact we've only got one player in so far is not through the lack of trying.
"It's important that, because we've had a few knockbacks, we don't go out and spend money for the sake of it.
"Once the money is spent, it's gone, and if you get the wrong type of player in the dressing room it can cause friction.
"I can't let frustration cloud my judgment. Also, I don't want to have to bend people's arms to come here."
Jewell is refusing to go public with his list of targets, preferring to keep his counsel until deals are wrapped up.
He said: "Every time we think a deal is close, something seems to go wrong.
"The other week we had Heidar Helguson here, the medical was done, terms were agreed, and then he got a call from Fulham."
Reports today said one possible name on Jewell's shopping list is Wolves striker Carl Cort, a £1.2m fee having been suggested.