‘Russell Martin makes new Rangers transfer plan as medical booked’
Russell Martin is aiming to stamp his authority on Rangers and has worked with the recruitment team to establish a new transfer plan this summer.
That is according to former Man United chief scout and Sir Alex Ferguson number two Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Martin will steer clear of ageing big-name players.
Instead, the boss is keen to recruit young players and develop them into first-team stars – buying into the established philosophy in place at Ibrox.
This comes after Brown told Football Insider that Rangers were pushing to sign Peterborough’s Kwame Poku – although he is now set to join QPR after agreeing terms and undergoing a medical, as exclusively revealed by Football Insider on Tuesday.
As part of his plans, Martin is aiming to shift some of the squad’s older players and those on the fringes of the team to make room for new arrivals.
Brown told Football Insider on 22 June that Rangers will accept offers for James Tavernier after Max Aarons was brought in at right-back.
Russell Martin makes new Rangers transfer plan
There is an acceptance at Ibrox that experienced players can be valuable assets, as Football Insider revealed Rangers want to sign Leicester’s Conor Coady.
However, Brown, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, has explained Rangers are mainly looking to recruit younger players on bargain deals this summer.
“Russell Martin and the new owners will be putting plans in place,” he told Football Insider.
“In the past, Rangers have looked to take ageing, experienced, big-name Premier League players and hoped it would boost their reputation a bit.
“I’m thinking of Gascoigne for example, when he was there other players were also interested.
“But they’re in a different market now and a different situation, the club is in a different place.
“They don’t want these big-name players on big wages who can only give you one or two years before they’re either ageing or wanting to leave.
“They’re going to look at younger players who they can develop and grow into stars.
“Then, it will either allow them to sell and reinvest, or they’ll have top-quality players on their hands.
“Martin is keen to go in that direction and to work with younger players.
“Yes they’ll still need experience and leaders in the squad because that’s always important, but their main focus is going to be on younger players and bargain deals.”
Liverpool open Owen Beck talks amid loan interest
As part of their new transfer plan, Rangers had been interested in a move to sign Liverpool’s 22-year-old left-back Owen Beck in the summer window.
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 26 June that Liverpool have opened contract talks with Beck as they plan to tie him down to a long-term deal.
The full-back will then be allowed to leave Anfield on loan following the arrival of Milos Kerkez and uncertainty surrounding Andy Roberton’s future.
Rangers are among the clubs interested in a short-term deal, but are set to face competition from the likes of Derby County and Wrexham.
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