Harry Redknapp claims Rangers will struggle to recruit from the Premier League, as quoted by the Scotsman.
The Gers brought both Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis from the English top flight in January.
However, at 36 and 34 respectively, both players are considered past their prime.
That’s not stopping them contribute right now, though. They’ve played a key role in Steven Gerrard’s side’s recent resurgence.
Yet, Redknapp believes any further signings from the league in which he spent most of his managerial career, will have to be players of a similar age, rather than those at their peak.
“It sounds nice, but players are not going to take a massive wage cut to come up here for a trophy,” said Redknapp, as quoted by the Scotsman.
“Players today don’t do wage cuts. Whatever way you box it up, if you get £100,000 in England and you’re offered £50,000 a week here but you might win a trophy – you ain’t coming! It’s just not going to happen.
“People are earning crazy money now [in England]. Even average players are earning £100,000 a week. I spoke to a boy the other week who is playing at a bottom half club and he wanted to move. He was on £80,000 a week, it is crazy.
“If you’re going to get names up in Scotland it’s going to be guys at 33 or 34 at the moment. You might get some players from the Premier League up to Rangers or Celtic but you’re not going to get the top players [because of] the money.”
Verdict
This is perhaps a reality check in the lead up to the summer transfer window.
The Gers have already been linked with an £18m Premier League forward, Andre Gray [Scottish Herald]. However, if Redknapp is right, there’s little chance he’ll be happy with a move north of the border if it means a financial hit.
Of course, sweeping generalizations should be avoided. Individual circumstances may mean not all players feel the same way.
The former West Ham, Spurs and Pompey boss knows a thing or two about the league and the transfer market, though, and he’s probably right on this one.
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