Sunderland AFC transfer news: Rangers close in on Joleon Lescott, Spurs midfielder linked

Sunderland are also reported to be interested in Lescott but Warburton believes Rangers can bridge the financial gap between the Scottish and English top flights by stressing the experience on offer at Ibrox.

After holding talks with Lescott and agreeing a £1.5million fee with Preston for striker Joe Garner, Warburton confirmed he was "hopefully very near a conclusion on one or two targets."

The Rangers boss added at his Thursday lunchtime media conference: "I hope we can get them to completion in the next 24 to 48 hours max."

Warburton met Lescott in Manchester on Tuesday in a bid to persuade him to move to the Ladbrokes Premiership after the 34-year-old former England centre-back was told he was free to leave Aston Villa.

When asked about his chances of signing a player of Lescott's calibre, Warburton said: "I'm optimistic because we have to keep raising the profile of Rangers.

"Players know about the club, know about the history and stature of the club and hopefully we can keep pushing forward. If we can do that and sign players of the right calibre, then it's almost self-fulfilling."

Warburton added: "We can't compete with Premier League clubs, absolutely not.

"The financial disparity is evident for all to see. But what we can do is look at what we can offer a player. We can offer a player an opportunity here that is maybe not on offer at that club. And maybe those clubs can sign more players to have bigger squads.

"If a player doesn't buy into that, no problem, we shake hands and move on. You want players who want to be here, recognise an opportunity and see a role for themselves with Rangers.

"We can't compete when it comes down to straight cash, but with players of experience and players of quality it's not always about a straight cash deal. It's very much about the quality of opportunity. If we can get that right, then we have a chance."

For the latest Sunderland AFC news like our Facebook page:Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tom Carroll has been linked with a move to the Stadium of Light.

Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion are also reported to be in for the 24-year-old.

Manager David Moyes is looking to boost his midfield options after the injuries to Seb Larsson, Jan Kirchhoff and Lee Cattermole ahead of Sunday's Wear-Tees derby against Middlesbrough.

Carroll signed a five-year deal at White Hart Lane in 2011.

He was officially out of contract this summer but he was marked down as contracted when the squad list was published earlier this summer.

For the latest Sunderland AFC news like our Facebook page:And finally, former Sunderland loanee DeAndre Yedlin is wanted by Turkish side Trabzonspor as well as Hull City and Championship side Derby County.

Yedlin is not part of Spurs' plans this season but is said to favour a permanent, rather than loan move, away from White Hart Lane.