No guarantees over Mckay
Mark Warburton has admitted Rangers cannot guarantee holding on to highly-regarded winger Barrie Mckay amid reported interest in the player from English and overseas clubs during the current transfer window.
Mckay, 22, has flourished at Rangers under Warburton’s management, forcing his way into the senior Scotland squad. He is out of contract in the summer of 2018 and says he has yet to be offered a longer term deal by the Ibrox club.
Warburton believes
negotiations have been initiated to secure Mckay’s future but recognises a vulnerability to bids for any of his first team squad members before the end of this month.
“I’m comfortable that all my players will be here when the window closes, but that could change tomorrow,” said Warburton. “That’s how the window works.
“If clubs come in, unsettle the players and it’s good business for our club, then we will do it. We have to have replacements lined up and move accordingly. So no player is safe from that.
“Barrie is a very talented player and he is a Rangers player. I’m delighted with his progress over the last 18 months. He is technically gifted, physically strong, quick. He sees a pass. He has got such a bright future for the Scottish national team. “He showed against Celtic recently and again against RB Leipzig last Sunday that he can be outstanding against top teams. So it is quite natural that he is one of many names who will be looked at.
“The dialogue goes on [about a new contract]. My job is to say what I think about the player and support the player. From my point of view, he is an outstanding young talent
“No [I’m not aware of any approaches for him], it’s above my pay grade. From our point of view we value Barrie very highly. He is a top young talent and I hope very much he has a bright future here at Rangers.”
Warburton, meanwhile, remains hopeful of adding one more new recruit to his squad this month, having already tied up loan deals for Arsenal playmaker Jon Toral and Bournemouth midfielder Emerson Hyndman. Finding striking cover for Joe Garner, whose shoulder injury may not be as serious as first feared, is a target.
Warburton said:“the news on Joe Garner is good, touch wood, but we will have a look at what’s available.”