MARK WARBURTON, the Rangers manager, insists he won’t panic and pay over the odds for players as he continues his search for another two additions to his Ibrox squad this summer.
Warburton completed his ninth deal of the transfer window with the capture of Joe Dodoo from Leicester City on Tuesday and remains in the market for a defender and a forward as he prepares for a shot at the Premiership title this term.
Another centre-back option appears to be the more urgent target but Warburton is content to be patient and wait for the right deal at the right price in the coming weeks.
“We are trying. It’s an ever decreasing talent pool,” he said. “You look at the prices down south and there are players moving for six, seven, eight or £10million who were one, two, three, four just a few weeks ago. So the market demand is such that the shelves are getting thin after the Euros. I think people are now starting to panic and Rangers can’t be drawn into that. We can’t be drawn into a panic buy.
“If it adds value we will make a move but we won’t be drawn into an auction because we will lose that. Matt Crooks, don’t forget is a defensive midfielder/centre half and at 6ft 4ins he adds physicality. Clint Hill was very good on Tuesday and we have Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson.
“But if the right person becomes available we will move. But we can’t get drawn into an auction and we can’t compete with English clubs. If you look at the numbers being quoted down south players were going for half a month ago and now they will go for the new price and that can’t be right.”
As well as adding strength and depth to his ranks this summer, Warburton has rewarded several members of his Championship winning squad with new deals. The 53-year-old put pen-to-paper on an extension earlier this month and has seen Wes Foderingham, James Tavernier and Rob Kiernan follow suit this week, while talks are ongoing with striker Martyn Waghorn.
“David (Weir) and myself knew it would be an obvious question,” Warburton said. “Players are respectful, but they ask questions. It used to be: Drink that. They’d say ‘What is it?’ You’d say ‘Just drink it.’ Now they won’t drink. What’s in the protein shake? Why am I drinking it? It’s good, they are enquiring.
“But likewise, they’ll ask the management 'Are you committed here?' Why would we commit if you are not? That was important to get out of the way.”
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