The transfer window is on the horizon and Warburton has a few ideas on his mind.
It is hardly surprising that Mark Warburton wants to add Conor Hourihane, one of the most in-form midfielders outside of the Premier League, to his Rangers squad in January, as reported by the Scottish Sun.
The 25-year-old’s tally of four goals and a league leading nine assists in 2016/17 is impressive enough, although it is the way Hourihane controls the game and dictates the tempo with his expansive passing range that will have caught the eye of the former Brentford boss. Whether Rangers fans like it or not, Warburton’s passing philosophy is here to stay.
Furthermore, the manager himself admitted recently that the club were actively attempting to seek out players with expiring contracts, according to the Birmingham Mail. Essentially, players that would be able to move for free in the summer and whose clubs could be railroaded into agreeing a cut-price deal for their services.
And Hourihane, set to become a free agent in the summer, fits the bill.
The fact that the talented play-maker has publically admitted his delight at being linked with such giants of the British game as Rangers, Celtic and Aston Villa, via the Scottish Sun, hardly dampened the speculation either.
Claims from Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom that the club is fighting tooth and nail to tie down their prized asset via a new and improved deal, meanwhile, should only spur Rangers into action.
If Warburton wants to close the gap on Celtic, bringing in players with the quality of Hourihane would be a step in the right direction.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
