Walter Smith has claimed that Rangers can afford to sign SIX players.
Despite being unable to pay a transfer fee for anyone in the last 23 months the Rangers boss is still attempting to add to his threadbare squad.
Various reports about ‘not being held to ransom’ have accompanied the club’s failure to bring in any new faces.
Smith has already explained that Rangers are unlikely to be able to offer players out of contract at the end of this season a new deal before the departure of Kevin Thompson to Middlesbrough.
Thompson followed Kris Boyd to the Riverside Stadium with Nacho Novo, Steven Smith, Danny Wilson and Marcus DaBeasley also coming off the pay-roll as well as star finder Ewan Chester.
Rangers now have a first team squad of 14 players supplemented by youngsters with Smith looking to go into the new season with a squad of 18 experienced players.
Discussing the lack of new signings the Rangers boss claimed: “The money we have available would maybe bring in six players.
“But I’d prefer to bring in two or three at a better level and hope the younger boys in our squad help us out during the season.
“We’ve been trying to bring in new players, but so far we haven’t been successful.”
Chris Eagles decision to reject a move to Ibrox in favour of staying with Burnley should have brought some realism to Rangers transfer wishes but that appears not to be the case.
Claims that John Utaka and James Beattie were on their way to Ibrox have fizzled out with Martin Bain reportedly involved in signing talks for £4m rated Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic.
With a wage cap of £18,000/week it’s unlikely that Rangers will be able to bring in anyone rated at over £1m as Smith admitted.
The Rangers boss explained: “We tried to get Chris Eagles, but that fell through.
“The important factor will be replacing Kris Boyd. Apart from trying to sign players who will get us the amount of goals he provided, the onus is on everybody to step up.”
One player that won’t be stepping up is Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Despite the wealth of evidence to the contrary reports from Monaco suggested that Rangers were in negotations to take the striker to Ibrox on a loan deal.
Discussing the Gudjohnsen speculation Smith admitted: “We’ve been offered a million and one players.
“But that’s the situation throughout Europe not just with us, but with every club. But we couldn’t look at his wages.”
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They wanted Chris Eagles but they didn’t get him Eidur.