Football
PA Sport 8y

Rangers near signing of Joe Dodoo from Leicester City - Mark Warburton

Rangers manager Mark Warburton hopes to have the signing of Leicester forward Joe Dodoo wrapped up by early next week.

The 21-year-old is keen on a move to Glasgow after training with Rangers this week and the two clubs are discussing a deal. Dodoo is out of contract but Leicester are due compensation as they offered him a new deal.

Dodoo hit four goals for Leicester in the Capital One Cup last season but only made one appearance in their title-winning campaign, and was loaned to Bury.

Speaking at a media conference ahead of his team's Betfred Cup clash with Motherwell, Warburton said: "We are trying to get things to completion. There is paperwork between the clubs. If all goes well, we can work with him early next week, but as yet it's not finalised.

"I see him as a young, exciting striker, I see him probably more central than wide, but we like players with that flexibility of offering us width. If we have players with flexibility of position, then it gives us far more options."

Dodoo impressed Warburton both on and off the training field this week.

"We have to add value and quality to the squad, and add characters who add something off the pitch as well," he said. He came in and trained with us, fitted in really well. He was chatting away to Joey Barton, to Lee Wallace, the skipper, and Kenny Miller, and the young guys as well."

Dodoo looks set to be Rangers' ninth summer signing but Warburton aims to get another two on board.

"A defender and maybe one more striker as well," he said. "We need to have depth.

"We want the young ones to go out and play as we did last year. The under-20s environment doesn't suit so we want the young talents to go out on loan, the likes of Jordan Thompson, Ryan Hardie, Tom Walsh. I think they will benefit from that and come back to Rangers better players."

Rangers will be without Matt Crooks at Fir Park, as the former Accrington player works his way back from ankle surgery, while Warburton will slowly integrate his new players over the Betfred Cup group stages.

"It's probably too early for Joey [Barton]," Warburton said. "You will maybe see Niko [Kranjcar] for a short period and then look to introduce both of them on Tuesday in a greater capacity, but a limited amount of time.

"You will see a number of changes on Tuesday and then Friday. We will rotate everyone from the keepers right the way through. The young ones will be included too.

"Wes [Foderingham] will certainly start on Saturday and Matt [Gilks] will come in on Tuesday. Lee Hodson will start on Tuesday, Josh Windass will start on Tuesday."

Rangers have only played one pre-season friendly but they were in a similar situation when they played Hibernian in last year's Petrofac Cup opener in July, and stunned their hosts and Ladbrokes Championship rivals with a 6-2 win.

And midfielder Andy Halliday hopes they can get one over their Premiership opponents at Fir Park.

"It's a similar scenario," he said. "I remember when the draw for the Petrofac was made, Hibs were seen as our closest rivals.

"Outside this building, it was seen as a tough draw for us but it was one we relished. Motherwell has come quite early in our pre-season preparations, and it's a big test for us and we want to get off to a good start.

"I suppose we laid down a marker in terms of the emphatic style we won that game. I suppose it was an eye-opener for everyone else and it just showed that we had been doing in training every single day, we could take on to the pitch. That's what we have tried to do in the last couple of weeks.

"I'm certainly not expecting the same type of result but a will win do."

^ Back to Top ^