United also have six key players all one booking away from a one-match suspension.
"Whether or not I am able to dip into the transfer market again depends on certain things," Laws told the Scunthorpe Telegraph.
"If we are to bring anybody in then we need to get rid of one or two players. Until then my hands are tied.
"We are over-budget this year, I know that, and we have a big squad."
Meanwhile, the Iron will receive a timely boost with the news that defender Nathan Stanton could return from a knee injury for Wednesday night's home reserve game with Doncaster.