Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon admits he has a “conundrum” to solve as the countdown continues to the end of the transfer window.
The strengthening of his central defence is the priority for McKinnon after a shaky start to the Championship season from his team, particularly at the back.
It may look odd timing, then, to be selling talented teenager Harry Souttar to Stoke City for a fee of £200,000-plus but that is all part of the puzzle for the Tangerines.
McKinnon needs cash in order to pay for one of the most expensive commodities in the modern game – an accomplished and experienced centre-back.
So it is a case of long-term possible pain for short-term probable gain, with United desperate to get their league campaign back on track after a draw against Queen of the South and defeat to Dumbarton.
McKinnon said: “If you want a quality defender they cost. I mean, really cost!
“Given what our budget is, it’s very difficult to bring in better than what we’ve got at the moment on what we are offering.
“That’s the conundrum for us.
“I was just on the phone there about someone but it’s so expensive.
“Just the other night I must have had two or three Premiership managers throwing players at me,” added McKinnon, who is understood to have been quoted a salary figure for one defender that is four times what he can offer.
“There are people available but I need to decide about cost and if they will improve the team.
“We definitely have to strengthen but it will be within our budget.
“We need competition all over the park and especially in certain areas and we are looking.
“We just need to hold our nerve and wait and see if we can find someone who is going to provide value and be better than what we have.
“There just is no point signing people if they are not better than what we have.
“We must be patient.”
McKinnon is hoping to get cash from the Souttar deal when it goes through so that he can get moving in the market before it shuts at the end of this month.
He added: “Harry is away to Stoke to have a look around and if you want to bring someone in to strengthen the team you need to move people on.
“Everybody should know that and get that.
“There is wee bit of money now that Henri Anier is away and we need to free up more.
“I would hope to see some of that money (the Souttar fee) but everything comes in instalments now.
“That’s where we are. It is a trade-off.
“You get money in for someone who is still quite young and maybe not ready and they (Stoke) are buying potential. We also have add-ons so more money might come back to us over time.
“For the short term, we can then look to bring someone in who maybe has more experience.
“Perhaps that will be a centre half who will play every game for us this season, who knows?
“It is clear as day to me how this works and I hope the fans see it too.
“I didn’t want Harry to go but his family pushed for it and I understand why they did that because it’s a great chance for him.”
With Ayr United visiting Tannadice tomorrow, McKinnon has politely pleaded with the home supporters to be patient if the opposition sits in, just as Dumbarton did in that 1-0 defeat last weekend.
McKinnon said: “I would ask for a little bit of patience from the fans.
“United obviously haven’t been in this division for a good few years but last season Rangers and Hibs scraped by in games.
“Teams will sit in and be organised so we need patience.
“There are lots of good professionals in this league with Queen of the South being a prime example.
“We’re building a team here and we’re working hard to bring people in.
“On our day, when we get it right, we are a decent team.”
Meanwhile, Lewis Toshney remains doubtful for the clash with the Honest Men with his knee problem.
McKinnon said: “He’s not trained yet but, fingers crossed, he will do a bit of running and he’s got a scan on Friday night.
“If everything comes back fine on Saturday morning, he will have a chance of playing against Ayr.
“If it’s not OK, then he won’t play.”
