CELTIC target Bright Osayi-Samuel has been warned by former Ibrox boss Mark Warburton about signing a pre-contract with another club.
The Hoops have been linked with the winger who will be a free agent in June and looks poised to quit Queens Park Rangers.
The exciting 22-year-old Nigerian-born raider joined from Blackpool in 2017 and scored eight goals in 82 appearances.
Gary Primrose, Neil Lennon’s former Hoops assistant, tipped off the Irishman about the availability of Osayi-Samuel.
However, Warburton threatened to AXE the player and, speaking in the Glasgow Herald, said: “It’s about looking at what protects QPR.
“The season is starting later than normal and the January transfer window is not that far away.
“People can sign pre-contracts in January and you can have a situation where agents delay conversations, haggle – ‘I’ll come back to you next week’ – and suddenly players are signing pre-contracts.
“And when a player signs a pre-contract and commits to another club, quite understandably their focus and attention drifts away from their current club. I understand that.
“Although these guys are highly-paid athletes and professionals they’re still young guys, many experiencing situations like this which they haven’t experienced before.
“So, you have to give a lot of understanding and I do sympathise. But, for me, I want players who want to be here and want to commit to QPR.
“I understand if they want their future away from QPR, but we have to be treated appropriately and act in a consistent manner which is in the best interests of the football club.
“You can’t have players just easing to a pre-contract and look to leave for free come May of 2021. That’s not going to happen here.”
