MARK WARBURTON, the Rangers manager, faces competition from New York Cosmos for the signature of midfielder Niko Kranjcar this summer. The Croatian has emerged as a target for Warburton as he looks to strengthen his squad for the new Premiership campaign but no deal has yet been struck to bring him to Ibrox.

Kranjcar, who had spells in England with Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, moved to New York last month but his contract with the Cosmos is due to expire in a couple of weeks. Warburton hopes to have as many new players on board as possible before his side return to pre-season training on June 18 and then head across the Atlantic for a training camp in Charleston.

He must wait to discover if Kranjcar will join the champions, however, with Cosmos chief operating officer Erik Stover determined to fend off interest in the playmaker this month.

"We are hopeful we can do an extension with Niko but we are aware clubs are interested in him,” Stover told STV. "I think he would like to stay with us, it's a negotiating process. There's an interest from both parties to work something out but time will tell. We have been very open with each other from the beginning. Within the next few weeks we'll know, he needs clarity and so do we. He's been an outstanding player on the field and wonderful off it. I wasn't aware of Rangers interest, but I'm not surprised."

A deal for Kranjcar is not the only one that Warburton is pursuing at present as he looks to make his fourth acquisition ahead of the new season following the agreements to bring Matt Crooks, Josh Windass and Jordan Rossiter to Ibrox. Midfielder Joey Barton is still considering his options ahead of a possible move from Burnley, while Hibernian striker Jason Cummings and Graham Dorrans of Norwich City have also been linked with a summer switch.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Cammy Bell could be heading for the Ibrox exit door as Bristol City consider a move for the out-of-favour 29-year-old. Bell has been unable to dislodge Wes Foderingham from the starting line-up this season and Warburton is unlikely to stand in his way if a deal can be done to take him to Ashton Gate.