Mark Warburton wants to sign hungry players for Rangers

Rangers manager Mark Warburton is keen to ensure any new signing retains the hunger to win trophies after the club opened talks with Niko Kranjcar and Matt Gilks.

Former Tottenham and Croatia midfielder Kranjcar declared himself "honoured" to be in talks with Rangers after flying into Glasgow while goalkeeper Gilks visited the Rangers training ground.

Gilks looks set to replace Cammy Bell, who has completed his move to Dundee United.

Kranjcar is a free agent following a spell with the New York Cosmos and the 31-year-old is keen to finalise a move to join former QPR team-mate Joey Barton in the Rangers midfield.

Warburton said: "Any player with that experience, that type of CV, brings a real quality. What we have to do from our side is make sure the players still retain the hunger and desire to do well, impress and win. That's the key, to win trophies.

"The players we are looking at, we have done a lot of homework and I'm sure they will add real quality to the squad."

Gilks played just two games - both in the League Cup - during a two-year spell at Burnley but Warburton insists the 34-year-old, who won three Scotland caps during his Blackpool days, would not arrive purely as back-up for Wes Foderingham.

"I don't think you can sign any player of quality and say to him: 'You're going to be a number two.' There's no challenge there," said Warburton, who was speaking as Rangers launched a partnership with Boclair Academy in Bearsden, which will see academy players combine their education with football training.

"It's got to be a canvas and you say the best player, who produces the performances for you, will play.

"Wes was absolutely outstanding last year and Cammy Bell was a very able guy sitting there but didn't get the chance to play.

"Wes needs to be pushed, every player in every squad needs to be pushed. We look to get a quality addition who will do that and I know Wes will respond in the right way."

Kranjcar earlier revealed that former Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic had helped sell a potential move to Ibrox.

The Croatian told reporters at Glasgow Airport: "It's great being here and I'm looking forward to the possibility but we still have to wait to see what will turn out.

"Anyone who plays football or follows football knows what a massive club it is. So I'm honoured to be in talks with Rangers and hopefully we can find a way for both of us to sit down and agree a deal.

"I'm really good friends with Nikica Jelavic so I've obviously heard a lot about it from him."

Bell failed to make an appearance under Warburton and cancelled his contract in order to sign a two-year deal at Tannadice.

United boss Ray McKinnon told his club's website: "There was a lot of interest in Cammy and even a last minute attempt to hijack the deal from a Premiership club but he stuck to his decision to come to United and that says everything about him as a person. I hope to bring more new faces in within the next week also."

Bell added: "After I spoke to the new gaffer here he sold me the club and what he wants to achieve. The passion and determination he showed when I met him convinced me this was the right place for me."