Agent Carlile in urgent call

Although there has been the usual summer transfer speculation, actual deals have been slow to materialise.

Carlile, the Belfast-based agent, whose clients include Kyle Lafferty of Rangers and Niall McGinn and Paddy McCourt of Celtic, has claimed that while managers have plenty of options at the moment, they should not leave it too late to make their move.

He said: "I've noticed that there are a lot more players in the market and there is competition between them.

"There could be 100 players chasing one contract. It is crazy. But it will move in July and into August.

"Clubs will be back to pre-season training and will realise that they are maybe weak in a certain position or that their squad as a whole needs strengthening.

"So it might get interesting as the weeks go on.

"Managers will have a list of players but it becomes a risky game if you hold off and hold off and find the players on your list have been snapped up.

"Then there will be a last-minute stampede.

"But things are fluid so everyone needs to be on the ball."