HARTLEPOOL United have declared their interest in bringing Rangers winger Josh McPake to the Suit Direct Stadium for next season, The Northern Echo understands.

Having secured the managerial appointment of Paul Hartley, the club are now looking to build their squad for next season with head of recruitment Chris Trotter working through deals for next season.

At the age of 20, McPake has played 64 senior games with 37 of those appearances being made at League Two level with Harrogate Town and most recently with Tranmere Rovers, where he spent the second half of last season.

McPake has been identified as a possible signing for next season with the 20-year-old having already proven his capabilities at League Two level. With several years left on McPake’s contract at Ibrox, Pools will be looking a bringing the Scotsman to the North-East of England on loan.

While Pools are keen to bring McPake to the North-East of England, Carlisle United are also reportedly monitoring his situation while several Scottish sides are also looking to broker a deal for the highly-rated attacker.

New Pools manager Paul Hartley is expected to explore the Scottish market having spent ten years north of the border in the dugout at Alloa Athletic, Dundee, Falkirk and most recently with Cove Rangers. He is being tasked with building a squad capable of mounting a League Two promotion push next season and is expected to take the reigns at the club next Monday when he returns from holiday.

With plenty of skill and pace, the right-footed Scotsman McPake can operate on either flank. Pools may well be looking to line up a potential replacement for last season’s top scorer Luke Molyneux, who they look resigned to losing this summer.

Molyneux’s 12-goal haul last season has resulted in interest from a number of League One sides. While there is an offer on the table from Pools for Molyneux, the 24-year-old is expected to test himself at a higher level in the football pyramid.