Rangers backers prepare £5m transfer kitty for Premiership return as Ibrox side set sights on toppling Old Firm rivals Celtic
- Dave King and his fellow backers to set up £5m summer transfer kitty
- Rangers confirmed their return to the Premiership last week
- They also beat rivals Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-finals on Sunday
- Budgets for next season already discussed with manager Mark Warburton
Rangers shareholders have pledged £5million for new signings this summer ahead of an assault on the Premiership title.
Sportsmail understands the club’s backers – chairman Dave King and the Three Bears of George Letham, George Taylor and Douglas Park – discussed next season’s budgets in a series of meetings both before and after Sunday’s Scottish Cup triumph over Celtic.
And King, who met with Mark Warburton again on Tuesday night, has made a promise to stump up half the £5m outlay for new players via a fresh soft loan as part of an agreement to finance a title challenge next season.
Rangers director Dave King and his fellow backers have offered up a £5m transfer kitty for next season
Rangers made a statement ahead of their Premiership return by beating rivals Celtic in the Scottish Cup
Rangers manager Mark Warburton will be backed in the transfer market this summer to launch a title shot
King and the Three Bears have already provided a series of soft loans to prop up the club’s fragile finances. With Premiership cashflow expected to bolster the balance sheet by £5m, however, the Ibrox board hope to reach break even point next year.
Victory over Hibernian in the Scottish Cup Final on May 21 would provide further revenue from European competition and cap a successful season following promotion from the Championship and victory in the Petrofac Cup Final.
Warburton has warned, however, that a title push and Europa League football will require ‘four or five’ new signings.
Rangers players celebrate after Celtic's Tomas Rogic missed the decisive spot-kick on Sunday
Barrie McKay (right) celebrates his extra time goal during Rangers' Scottish Cup semi-final win over Celtic
Conor Hourihane of Barnsley is one of the players on the Rangers wishlist for this summer
The club have already signed Accrington Stanley duo Josh Windass and Matt Crooks on freedom of contract. But King has promised Warburton the recruitment drive won’t stop there, with cash pledged for transfer fees and a substantial increase to the wage bill, after the Ibrox boss was able to name just five substitutes against Celtic.
‘We won’t relax about it,’ said King. ‘We still have a plan to improve the team during the summer.
‘The players we had on the park last year were fantastic but next year if we’re going to challenge for the title it is important that we strengthen and get a few more players in.’
Sportsmail understands Barnsley midfielder Conor Hourihane is on Warburton’s wishlist as he prepares for an assault on Scottish football’s top flight next season.
The 25-year-old is aware of the Glasgow giants’ interest but, still under contract with Barnsley until 2017, a six-figure transfer fee would be required.
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