MARK WARBURTON, the Rangers manager, insists he won’t be reckless in the transfer market and look to spend big to clinch another Premiership title.
Former Ibrox boss Walter Smith claimed this week that Rangers may have to ‘take a gamble and risk going into debt’ as they attempt to close the gap to Old Firm rivals Celtic. Rangers have lost all three derby outings this term and are currently 19 points off the pace being set by Brendan Rodgers’ side as they ease towards a sixth successive top flight crown. Rangers are two points clear of Aberdeen in the race to be best of the rest this term but it is gap to Celtic that many fans are focused on as they look ahead to a potential title challenge next season.
Emerson Hyndman and Jon Toral have arrived at Ibrox on loan deals from Bournemouth and Arsenal respectively so far this month, while Warburton could go back into the market to add another player to his squad before the window shuts.
Warburton has often insisted that his side have been ‘highly competitive’ on their return to the top flight and the Englishman will continue with his prudent blueprint for the future.
“Please don’t put this as me against Walter. Far from it,” he said. “I’ve got enormous respect for Walter and he’s a great help to me. But my personal opinion is that, from where this club has been, it’s important that it builds strong, solid financial foundations.
“I don’t think in the current market, you can afford to go and buy your way out trouble, spending money that you haven’t got. That’s not said in a derogatory way to the club. Far from it. But I think we’ve got to be very prudent in what we do going forward.
“If that means there is a bit of frustration, I think the vast majority of fans understand that, from where the club has been, and where it needs to get back to, it needs to be done in a very prudent and astute manner.”
Ahead of the 2-1 defeat to Celtic on Hogmanay, Warburton highlighted the financial disparity between the Old Firm rivals and the Hoops show no signs of slowing down with boss Rodgers at the helm. The Northern Irishman has already added to his ranks this month the capture of Kouassi Eboue in a £2.8million move from FC Krasnodar.
Former Gers skipper Barry Ferguson has urged Warburton to adopt a more prudent plan and the Englishman is determined to lay strong foundations on and off the park.
“Your word was reckless,” he said. “I’m not being sarcastic, but that’s the term you could use. The club was in a very perilous position. The chairman has come in with the board and steadied the ship and the club has moved forward.
“I just think that, after the experiences of the last four or five years, they’ve got to move forward on strong financial foundations and move at a pace that is appropriate for the club.
“We can’t be impacted by events or performances away from us. We have to look at Rangers.
“I’m not disagreeing with Walter. I have enormous respect for Walter and for Barry. Everyone has an opinion in football. That’s why everyone loves the game. But that’s my own personal opinion: that we have to be very prudent, very astute in what we do in the coming months.”
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