Courts targets fresh talent in summer sales

Tam Courts has revealed Dundee United will target at least “five or six” summer signings as the prospect of a European adventure edges closer to becoming a reality.

Courts has acknowledged that United must strengthen in wide areas, attack and prepare for a likely exodus of midfielder options.

The loan deals of regular starters Dylan Levitt and Marc Mcnulty expire at the end of the current campaign.

The likes of Kevin Mcdonald, Benjamin Siegrist, Max Biamou and Adrian Sporle will soon be out of contract.

And while United are hopeful of convincing Ian Harkes to extend his stay at Tannadice, uncertainty hangs over the future of Calum Butcher.

All of which means sporting director Tony Asghar will be charged with overseeing a busy close season.

Courts is not shying away from the challenge ahead, with regular recruitment meetings now taking place.

“When I came in last year, it almost felt like we had to build a relationship with the players, coach them, get a team on the pitch and there were also players looking to move on,” said Courts.

“Whereas, this year, it is nice to be able to feel like we can talk about recruitment – because, ultimately, we are going to need five, six or upwards of that in the summer.

“Recruitment is very topical at the moment, which is nice. At this stage, we are having all the right conversations.

“There are a number of players out of contract. There were a couple (of players) in January that we decided not to fully replace because we didn’t really have the targets identified.

“So, it’s going to be a really busy summer for us.”

He added: “We’ll need reinforcements in wide areas, the striker position and there are a couple of players who are out of contract in the midfield areas; we’ll need to make contingency plans for that.

“Because Max Biamou has not played a lot due to being injured, that type of profile – a physical presence – has also been missing.

“Five or six signings in the summer is probably the level required.”

Meanwhile, Courts believes recent criticism of Siegrist stems from the

United goalkeeper’s own lofty standards.

The Tannadice stopper – the club’s player of the year last season – has endured a couple of ropey moments in recent months.

Siegrist made a highprofile blunder to allow Georgios Giakoumakis to ripple the net in Celtic’s 3-0 win at Tannadice in March.

Questions were asked of his efforts for both Dundee goals in the recent 2-2 derby draw.

Even against Hearts last month, Ellis Simms’ nearpost winner was a shot Siegrist – on his best day – arguably gets a glove to.

However, Courts has kept faith with the composed

keeper, who is out of contract in the summer, and was rewarded with a crucial clean sheet against Motherwell on Saturday.

Indeed, Siegrist made a wonderful point-blank save to deny Ross Tierney in the dying embers.

“Benji has set such high standards at Dundee United,” said Courts.

“Any time he is perceived to have fallen beneath those, he is going to be a target.

“The fans expect such consistent performances.

“But Benji is never a concern to me because he has such a strong mentality.

“He is a big-game performer. You saw that

with the save in the second half (to thwart Tierney).”

Meanwhile, Courts has hailed the “work rate and determination” of striker Mcnulty despite a frustrating campaign.

The Scotland international has found the net just three times in 24 outings this season, with his progress interrupted on several occasions by injury woes.

His luck was rather exemplified on Saturday when he was involved in a nasty, fluke collision with team-mate Liam Smith.

That resulted in the onloan Reading striker being replaced by Nicky Clark.

“Marc (Mcnulty) is a

willing worker and a top player,” continued Courts.

“Probably because he has had a couple of injuries this season, he has not hit the form he maybe expected himself. But when he puts a tangerine shirt on you can see the work rate and determination.

“I hope he is going to be available for the next game (against Rangers).”

On the incident that led to Mcnulty’s withdrawal, Courts added: “The conditions were very tricky. The pitch was firm but quite greasy on top.

“What looked like a really promising move for us turned into a nightmare for Marc.”

RECRUITMENT DRIVE: Dundee United manager Tam Courts says he is in the hunt for “five or six” players.