Rangers were today linked with summer moves for two of Scottish football’s most exciting young prospects – James McArthur of Hamilton and David Goodwillie of Dundee United.

Gers boss Walter Smith is believed to be keen to add Accies midfielder McArthur and United striker Goodwillie to his squad.

However, with the off-field future of the Glasgow giants still uncertain – no buyer for Sir David Murray’s majority shareholding has come forward – Smith is unsure if he will have the funds needed to snare the duo.

Indeed, the experienced manager, who has not been able to buy a single player in the last 18 months, could have to get rid of some of his current players before he goes for them.

McArthur has been attracting the attention of a host of clubs in England and it would take an offer of around £500,000 to buy him from the New Douglas Park club.

However, the player, who has been told of Smith’s interest in him, is a boyhood Rangers fan and he is keen to move to the Scottish champions in the summer.

Elsewhere, United would expect a fee of around £750,000 to land Goodwillie, who was this week named Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Year.

The 21-year-old has two years left to run on his current contract.

Smith has been frustrated by the Lloyds Banking Group’s reluctance to sanction spending while they have had control of the Ibrox purse strings.

However, with the club almost certain to play in the group stages of next season’s Champions League, he is keeping his fingers crossed he is given some of that £12million windfall.