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MARK WARBURTON flew to New York last week to open signing talks with former Spurs star Niko Kranjcar - before returning Glasgow to give Joey Barton a guided tour of the club's facilities.

And the Rangers boss stepped up his personal recruitment drive yesterday when he and assistant boss Davie Weir treated Barton to a round of golf at the exclusive Loch Lomond Golf Club.

But Record Sport can reveal Croatian international Kranjcar is another name near the top of the Rangers manager’s wanted list.

In fact, Warburton hopped on a plane to the States last week, just hours after watching his team prepare for the Scottish Cup Final with a closed doors victory over Spurs in London.

(Image: Willie Vass)

It’s understood he met the 31-year-old in person before hopping back across the Atlantic in time to give Barton a VIP tour of Ibrox and the club’s training base at Auchenhowie.

Kranjcar is currently signed with New York Cosmos after being released by Dynamo Kiev but Warburton hopes to tempt the well travelled playmaker into a return to British football, where he has enjoyed previous spells at Portsmouth and QPR as well as Tottenham - all under the management of Harry Redknapp.

Warburton has identified the attacking midfield man as an ideal candidate to fill one of the wide positions in his attack for next season’s Premiership.

Barton, meanwhile, is the man Warburton wants to anchor his midfield and it’s understood he has made it clear to chairman Dave King and the board that the 33-year-old former England international is his priority summer target.

(Image: Tim Goode/PA Wire)

Record Sport understands Rangers head of recruitment Frank McParland - who convinced Barton to sign for Burnley last summer - began secretly working on the deal as far back as two months ago.

Rangers believe the free agent is very keen to sign despite the offer of a one year deal to skipper Burnley in the Premiership.

It’s understood Rangers are prepared to offer Barton a three year deal in order to persuade him to set up home in Glasgow.